By Papiya Bhattacharya

A German botanist laid the foundation of the gardens of Bangalore as well as all the significant parks and gardens in the then princely state of Mysore. As recently as 2000, 374 tree species were recorded in this garden city. In the last decade, many of these trees have been lost

I came to Bangalore in 1997 and stayed because it was so beautiful. There were clusters of flowering trees near the Guttahalli bus stop; Mekhri Circle was a garden of green with flowers in the middle of the road. There was no underpass then. From Mekhri Circle till Bellary Road, beyond Yelahanka police station limits, the road was lined on both sides by gulmohur trees, which were a riot of red and orange in summer. 

Today, the gulmohur trees have been cut to widen the road, following construction of the international airport at Devanahalli.

There was a banyan tree opposite the military farm on Bellary Road near which the Esteem Mall came up. In its shade, a tiny tea shop prospered. It was also the place where people waited for the bus -- the official bus stop was close by but people preferred to stand in the benign shade of the tree and sprint the extra distance to catch the bus. Tired wayside labourers and drunks often slept under the shade of the banyan after a meal at the nearby cart that sold hot rice and sambar. Birds and squirrels nested and played in the tree’s ample branches. 

They cut the banyan tree to widen the road. It took them more than a week to cut it because it was so huge! All I could do was watch...

Uses of trees in urban areas

Research tells us that trees help regulate the climate. They also purify the air and are, of course, pleasing to the eye. Properly situated trees provide shade to houses in summer, thereby reducing the need for air-conditioning. Tree transpiration also cuts local temperatures, affecting energy use. 

From an atmospheric carbon perspective, a properly placed urban tree can be 4-15 times as effective at reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide as a rural tree, which primarily is only involved in carbon sequestration. Trees help sequester atmospheric carbon. 

The basal area of trees in Bangalore’s residential areas is far below the threshold basal area of 5.5m³/ha in the eastern US (Considine and Frieswyk, 1982). 

With a rising population, the need for fossil fuels has increased. The use of biofuel for cooking is still prevalent. And so, as a mitigation strategy, we need to have greater areas under tree cover. 

Trees act as windbreaks, decreasing urban noise, influencing air quality, and increasing the diversity of fauna. An analysis of urban trees in Oakland, CA, revealed a tree carbon storage level of 11t/ha.

History of trees in Bangalore

A scientific paper titled ‘A study of Bangalore Urban Forest’, in Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 47, Issues 1-2, February 20, 2000, by P Sudha and Professor N H Ravindranath, states: “Bangalore is the fastest growing city in India, which has spread from 2 sq km in 1537 to 360 sq km in 1993. Before Bangalore was laid out in 1537, a thick jungle covered a part of this city area,’ (based on Hasan, M F, 1970, Bangalore Through the Centuries, Historical Publications, Bangalore).

  Freelance writer Susheela Nair wrote in The Hindu, in 2000: “The garden city also enjoys a year-long programmed show of sequentially blossoming trees (or ‘ritusamhara’). It starts with the vivid splashes of the trumpet-shaped jacarandas and butter yellow blooms of the tabebuias in January/February. Krumbiegal, a German-born botanist, deserves special mention for laying the foundation of the garden city and all the significant parks and gardens in the then princely state of Mysore. While conceiving and planning the city’s gardens, Krumbiegal and his disciples Dr H Marigowda and Javaraya made flowering trees an integral part of the city’s aesthetics. Sir Mirza Ismail, the then dewan, completed the illustrious work initiated by Krumbiegal. He planted peltophorum on many roads and an avenue with champaks in Malleshwaram and called it Sampige Road. 

“Laxman Rao, ex-commissioner of Bangalore City Corporation, is another Indian stalwart who took a keen interest in laying out gardens and parks in the corporation area, and also planting flowering and shade trees to beautify Bangalore. One must also pay special tribute to Neginhaul, who spearheaded a tree-planting campaign in Bangalore during his tenure as deputy conservator of forests.” 

Landscape in 2000 

Source: ‘Species richness in various land-use categories in Bangalore’ (P Sudha, Ravindranath N H/Landscape and Urban Planning 47 (2000))

The paper by P Sudha and N H Ravindranath lists the richness of tree species in different areas of Bangalore. It reveals that species richness is high in all areas; a few species are dominant, accounting for more than 70% of tree density. The paper goes on to say that the Bangalore urban forest is young, with 70% of trees having less than 15 cm in DBH. A total of 164 tree species were identified in various residential areas, of which 149 were recorded within compounds and 87 being avenue trees. 

In this one-of-its-kind study, 46 sites under various land-use categories -- residential, religious, commercial (offices and industrial), institutional and recreational (parks and lake sides) -- were chosen. Through field studies, 374 tree species were recorded in all these places.

The paper says: “Parks have the highest tree density (112 trees/ha), followed by lake surroundings and temples. Areas surrounding lakes have a density of 60 trees/ha, which is due to naturally growing vegetation along with well maintained parks by the city corporation. Temples, especially the older ones, have well maintained gardens with trees of different attributes. Since these temples have large areas, and the temple gurus and disciples reside within the temple premises, most of the essential ‘worship’ flowers, fruit- and vegetable-yielding tree species are grown within the temple premises. Commercial areas have low tree density as land use is intense. Trees present in commercial areas are concentrated in small squares and along pedestrian sidewalks. Residential areas also have low tree density as there is less growing space due to the high percentage of built-up space and cemented sidewalks.”

The landscape in 2009 

If certain areas of Bangalore are taken into account, and the trees counted, one will observe that the number of trees has decreased. Consider Hebbal, Malleshwaram, Yelahanka, Yeshwantpur, Mathikere, Bellary Road and the surrounding green patches, M G Road and its surrounding areas, Indira Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, High Grounds, areas around Hudson Circle, Nrupathunga Road, Mysore Road and the surrounding areas, and Kengeri. Green cover has shrunk in all these places which are characterised by high-rise apartments and malls. Several old bungalows have been sold or demolished to make way for apartments. Roadside trees have been cut to widen roads and build flyovers. I have often travelled the road to Nandi Hills on a rickety old bike. There used to be rows of trees on either side of the road, which passed over an unmanned railway crossing and into the hills beyond. That road has now become a six-lane highway with space only for speeding vehicles; no more birds, bees, squirrels, or birdsong!    District Forest Officer (Urban Forestry) Hubert of the Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) says the BBMP has planted over 2.5 lakh saplings in the last two years. The BBMP looks after the saplings for three years after which the plants can survive on their own. “Wherever and whenever there is a road widening, our tree officers give permission only when absolutely necessary. About 2,000-3,000 trees have been cut in the last three years in Bangalore,” he says. When asked about the lack of cooperation between the state forest department, the BBMP, and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), he says they are all sister concerns!

Data on tree plantation in Bangalore

Detailed talks with the BBMP and forest department officials about a tree census in Bangalore yielded no information. There was a tree census in Bangalore in 2006. “Trees in a few wards like Rajaji Nagar, Koramangala, Basaveshwara Nagar, Shivaji Nagar and Commercial Street (which has very few trees) were counted. I was transferred shortly afterwards and the project was aborted midway,” says Krishna Udupudi, former deputy conservator of forests, Bangalore. 

A visit to the department of forestry, Bangalore, proved fruitful. I gathered data on the number of trees planted in 1999-2008 from the officials and have tabulated it as follows: 

Source: Data on tree plantation in Bangalore by the forest department, over the last 10 years 

This data is consistent over the years. But one wonders: If so many saplings were planted every year, wouldn’t the subsequent year have less area left for planting? On being asked, DCF, IFS (Urban) N Deoraj said: “Workers from other agencies like the BBMP or BDA come and dig up the road to lay cables, pipes, etc, and uproot all the trees.” Why was there no cooperation then between the forest department, the BBMP and the BDA? “For cooperation to happen, the respective agency must apply for permission in writing, and the process is long. They prefer the (easier) route,” says another department official. I also asked for the number of trees that were cut between 1999 and 2009, but the department says the data is confidential. Besides, permission to cut trees is issued by the horticulture wing of the BBMP as well as the BDA and the forest department. 

How many of the saplings planted every year manage to survive? STEM, Centre for Symbiosis of Technology, Environment and Management, Bangalore, monitors the survival rate. The 1998–2001 STEM report shows an 85% survival rate. The most recent report is of 2005; work is underway on the 2009 report. 

“Forests in rural Bangalore are under tremendous pressure, as land values have increased phenomenally in recent years. We are trying to identify encroachments and remove them. In most cases it is the owner of a neighbouring plot who has encroached on forest land,” said Bangalore Rural Deputy Conservator of Forests Krishna Udupudi in an article by Sharath S Srivatsa in The Hindu, August 22, 2008.

Forest Survey of India reports

Although former Regional Director of FSI, Bangalore, Dr K S Shashidhar says a study of Bangalore’s green cover was conducted before his tenure, the present Regional Director Laxman Murthy says no data of this kind is available with the FSI, Bangalore.

Dr Shashidhar adds that if a eucalyptus grove counts as open forest in a State of Forest Report, where regions are mapped using satellite, it would not be around after a few years because the trees are grown for the purpose of being supplied to paper mills.

Source: Data from Forest Survey of India shows total area covered by trees in Bangalore 

The reports show that 6 sq km of dense forests have been lost, while 151 sq km of open forests have been gained between 1999 and 2004. In 1999, there are only two categories -- dense and open forests. In 2005, we have very dense forests, moderately dense forests, and open forests. In 2005, Karnataka shows a very dense forest percentage of 0.24%, and moderately dense forests of 11.28%; open forests are 6.86%. In 1999, the percentage of dense forests was 16.07%. 

“Data for the 2005 report has been taken till the end of 2004. The analysis of data takes up to two years, and the report was published in 2007. The State of Forest Report 2007 will be out by the end of 2009,” says Dr K S Shashidhar. 

The State of Forest 1999 report on Karnataka says that the increase of 86 sq km of open forest is on account of conversion of 14 sq km of dense forest, 87 sq km of scrub, and 18 sq km of non-forest, to open forest. The increase is also associated with the degradation of 8 sq km to scrub, and 25 sq km to non-forest. These details have been included to show the rapidity with which open forest areas can be converted to non-forest areas. 

Management of trees in a city 

P Sudha and N H Ravindranath’s paper offers tips on managing urban forests. It emphasises that urban trees have short lives, as they succumb to numerous stresses such as drought, vandalism and urban air pollution. An ideal situation would be for the forest department to plant saplings, which could then be looked after by local residents. This would encourage citizens to actively participate in keeping their city green and minimise the forest department’s maintenance cost. 

Professor Ravindranath suggests that the forest department distribute free saplings to be planted in residential areas, especially of indigenous species like Syzygium sp, Mangifera indiac, Phyllanthus sp, Artocarpus integrifolius and Nyctanthus sp that are economically important and also increase the basal area. He adds that the forest department could plan medicinal parks supporting indigenous medicinal trees such as Saraca indica, Terminali bellerica, Emblica officinalis, etc, in residential areas, involving local residents. This would not only help promote indigenous tree species, it would also educate people about the medicinal value of tree species. 

Professor Nadegowda, an agro forestry expert, says planting local tree species should be encouraged through ‘tree adoption schemes’, where locals can nurture and maintain trees and saplings. 

References

1 P Sudha, N H Ravindranath/Landscape and Urban Planning 47 (2000)
2 Heisler, 1986
3 Centre for Ecological Sciences website
4 Cubbon Park website
5 Lalbagh website 

(Papiya Bhattacharya is a Bangalore-based journalist) 

Infochange News & Features, September 2009

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Comments (1)

Written by VJK NAIR, on 22-09-2009 10:56 The name of the German botanist should be published, and at least one park founded by him should then be named after him. I who came to Bangalore in 1958 still rember the cool summers. It is good if the main roads name at Malleswaram such as Coconut Avenue, Sampige Road, Margosa Road are mentioned, along with the name of the temple near 15th cross, Kadu Malleswara. Fifty years back I used to admire every day the wooden letters `wood is good' over the then Forest Research Institute at Malleswaram.

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