100 & counting: Indiranagar residents hold tree census

Residents of Indiranagar, along with Bengaluru-based conservationists, conducted a tree census at the Indiranagar Bangalore Development Authority complex on Friday.

Around 150 people participated in the census and said they counted 100 trees of varied species.

The survey is being taken up in two phases with the conservationists covering the northern side of the complex on Friday. They said the second phase is likely to be done in a day or two and the final report will be released on August 22.

The survey was done for a duration of three hours from 10 am, where conservationists and citizens, including children, participated. Details like height of the tree, girth, age, canopy spread and species were recorded.

The premises is home to peepal, banyan, Indian beech, tulip tree, rain tree, silver oak, orchid tree, cherry, champak, java plum, mango, lemon, neem, coconut, jackfruit, subabul tamarind and custard apple trees.

According to an initial assessment by Vijay Nishanth, founder of Vruksha, the trees are below 50 years of age and their girth is between 60 and 100 cm. Some of the trees are around 10-15 metres in height.

The definition of a tree has been pre-defined for the survey — those which are at least 4.5 feet tall and at least 20 cm in girth. Saplings and smaller ones are not included.

“It will take time to compile the report as it is more than a mere headcount. The canopy and the green cover will be noted in the report. It will be released by August 22. It will also be put on public domain for citizens to analyse,” Nishanth said.

The dilapidated complex caught the attention of the public after the BDA announced that it would demolish the standing complex and rebuild a multi-storied complex under a public-private partnership model. “The survey is being done to find out the exact number of trees which will be lost for the complex. Over the last few days, a figure of 171 trees has been making the rounds. We wanted to be sure before holding the government accountable,” said a resident of Indiranagar, who was part of the exercise.