Ahmedabad plans to plant 50 lakh trees by 2026-27 to boost urban greenery, combat air pollution, and tackle heat stress due to rapid urbanization. The ‘Mission Five Million Trees’ initiative was launched by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on World Environment Day. The campaign includes a Mobile Real-Time Source Apportionment Laboratory and a Miyawaki-based Clong-On Forest Development Project, in addition to a large-scale plantation program at Chandkheda.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is spearheading this effort to counter the “urban heat island effect” exacerbated by population growth and urban expansion. The city is experiencing prolonged high temperatures even after peak daytime heat. A new Mobile Source Apportionment Laboratory has been introduced to identify and map air pollution sources in real-time, aiding targeted interventions for better air quality.
The Miyawaki-based Clong-On Forest Development Project aims to create dense urban forests and enhance the city’s green cover. AMC’s plantation program has shown steady growth in recent years, with a target of planting 50 lakh trees this year under Mission Five Million Trees. The initiative will cover various locations like major roads, public spaces, and gardens across Ahmedabad.
To improve air quality, AMC plans focused plantation drives in pollution hotspot areas identified by the Air Quality Department. The corporation has partnered with organizations through Public-Private Partnerships and CSR initiatives for long-term maintenance and expansion of green spaces. Programs like ‘Green Volunteer’ and ‘Memorial Park’ aim to engage the public, along with encouraging residential societies to become ‘Green Societies’.
Residents can register for tree plantation through the AMC Seva app or QR code scanning, with AMC teams conducting the activities free of cost. Notable attendees at the campaign launch included Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, and other local officials and residents.
