The initiative is part of efforts to protect existing greenery and expand urban green areas.
| Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran
The Forest Department plans to launch a long-awaited comprehensive tree census and green space survey in six major cities, including Chennai, as part of efforts to protect existing greenery and expand urban green areas.
Alongside Chennai, the survey will cover Coimbatore, Tirupur, Madurai, Tiruchi, and Salem. The objective of the survey is to map the current extent, distribution, and density of green spaces using high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced geospatial technologies, as per officials. The project will also create a detailed urban tree inventory, identifying and geo-tagging each tree, recording their species, and collecting data on vital features like trunk diameter, height, canopy width, and overall health.
The survey will assess the key ecological services provided by urban greenery, such as carbon sequestration, air pollution reduction, stormwater management, and mitigating the urban heat island effect. It will also identify vacant and under-utilised lands that could be transformed into green spaces or urban forests in the future.
A major component of the project is the development of a web-based dashboard that will integrate satellite data, GIS mapping, AI-powered image processing, and ecosystem service modelling. This tool will provide real-time insights to help city planners and authorities make data-driven decisions about urban green spaces.
Special focus will be given to indigenous and heritage trees, as well as trees located outside forested areas (TOFs) and other green spaces. The results will be incorporated into city master plans and climate resilience strategies, to offer recommendations for increasing green cover, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthening nature-based climate adaptation efforts.
The Forest Department has reportedly allocated ₹90 lakh for the project.
Published – November 30, 2025 07:38 pm IST
