The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is gearing up to conduct its latest tree census after its last census in 2008, 2013, and 2018. The unique part of this year's census will be the use of satellite-based technologies, namely the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Geographic Information System (GIS).
The Maharashtra Urban Areas (Protection and Preservation of Trees) Act, 1975, mandates all civil self-governing bodies to do a tree census every five years. This exercise helps assess the city's green cover and plan for a sustainable environment amidst urban development.
The number of trees in the area has seen a significant increase over the years. From 1,89,842 trees in 2005, the count rose to 2,39,337 in 2013 and further to 6,47,963 in the 2018 census.
The 2018 census recorded a high number of trees. But it noted a decrease in species diversity compared to previous years. The census identified 190 species from 53 families. This was a drop from the 234 and 246 species recorded in 2005 and 2013, respectively.
It also revealed that around 19,000 medicinal plants, 1 lakh fruit trees, and 5 lakh ornamental trees. The most common tree was the subabul (Leucaena leucocephala), with a count of 2,52,627.
The majority of the trees were in good health. Most of them were in the age range of 1 to 10 years. No red-listed species—those threatened with extinction—were found during the survey.
The authority emphasised that there should be a focus on preserving greenery in housing areas. It also suggested replacing invasive species with native trees. In 2023-2024, MBMC planted 2,000 trees and 26,000 saplings to create Miwawaki-style forests. The upcoming tree census will reveal more information about those trees.
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