Bengaluru is losing its green cover fast. Avenue trees have been reduced in numbers in to make way for hoardings and parkings spaces. Vacant areas are being filled with trees with a growing threat to open spaces in the city.

A recent remote sensing data clubbed with field census reveals that there are only 1.5 million trees to support Bengaluru’s population of 9.5 million, indicating one tree for every seven persons in the City. This is below the standard prescribed by World Health Organisation (WHO) which ideally is set to be one tree per person.

How is the government tackling the problem of vegetation loss? What are the ways in which the city can go green again? Different laws and policies are pose implementation and enforcement challenges. What needs to be converged here? While citizens are enthusiastic about tree planting efforts, what more can be done?

In a bid to address concerns critical for Bengaluru’s future Vidhi, Citizen Matters and Bangalore International Centre have come together to organize a series called “Bengaluru Solutions”. As part of the series Vidhi contributes a detailed article on a seminal issue impacting Bengaluru, which will be followed by a public discussion. The first installment under this series was organised on 14th July 2018, where panellists discuss solutions for restoring Bengaluru’s greenery.

Prof Harini Nagendra, a professor with Azim Premji University, Dipika Bajpai (Deputy Conservator of Forests, Govt of Karnataka), Shubhendu Sharma, founder of Afforestt and others will participate in the panel moderated by Meera K, co-founder, Oorvani Foundation/ Citizen Matters.