VV Tree Love Report#1

R E S U LT S O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y I N VO LV E M E N T T R E E C E N S U S P R O G R A M P H A S E

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420 DAYS 4993 TREES 40 RESIDENTS COMMUNITY LOVE AND LOVE FOR NATURE THANK YOU VASANT VIHAR, TREES AND MOTHER EARTH WWW.VVTREELOVE.TUMBLR.COM

VA S A N T V I H A R R E S I D E N T S ’ W E L FA R E A S S O C I AT I O N

* Translation: I am the Tree– A source of Prana (the breath of life); The earth's adornment, a source of greenery, a boon for health, a harbinger for rain, the guardian of natural beauty, destroyer of pollution, Sustenance to life, I am invaluable.

Š The study is copyright census leaders Vallari Sheel and Aditi Veena Gupta.

Photos courtesy Vallari Sheel, Manjari Sheel, Nandita Raman and Vijay Kiyawat and Aditi Veena. Design, layout and drawings courtesy Aditi Veena Gupta at The

city is but a garden.

03 WHY A TREE CENSUS

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APPRECIATION

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RESIDENTS‘ EXPERIENCE | meetings with remarkable trees

09 VASANT VIHAR AT A GLANCE

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LEARNINGS

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BIRDS & FLOWERS VV TREE LOVE is a one of it’s kind, community led project, initiated by the Vasant Vihar Residents’ Welfare association; to conscientiously engage with, conserve and protect the existing urban forests in our residential neighbourhood.

The first phase of this exercise had residents participate in the project to scientifically study, locate and number all street trees in the neighbourhood.

Top: Vallari, Anukriti, Sanvi, Saumya, Trisha, Ekta, Aditi Middle: Saroj, Veena, Alka, Devalina Bottom: Manjula, Anuva, Smera, Bhavya, Vijay, Ashwin

One could say that these meetings with remarkable trees were an end in them self; nevertheless the purpose of this data is for it be used to gain a deeper understanding of our natural environment .

To better maintain this natural capital and to plan ahead to be able to better utilise the ecosystem services that these urban forests provide.

21 WAY FORWARD

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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WHY A TREE CENSUS YOU MAY ASK Vallari Sheel | Environmental scientist and Urban Ecologist Aditi Veena | Architect and Urban ecologist

The importance of trees in the urban environment is unquestionable; however, it is quite often overlooked for other competing factors for eg. creation, management and maintenance of urban space.

Edwin Lutyens had planned the Imperial city of Delhi with a garden city in mind. An excerpt of the preliminary Report on the New Capital Scheme states: “..Trees will be everywhere, in every garden however small it may be, and along the sides of every roadway, and Imperial Delhi will be in the main sea of foliage. It may also be called a city, but it is going to be quite different from any city that the world has ever known..”

Although not all of Delhi contains Lutyens vision, Vasant Vihar is one of the better planned neighbourhoods in New Delhi with luscious parks, shaded streets and evergreen gardens. In the last few years, however, Vasant Vihar too has fallen victim to the rapid urbanization / builder makeover in Delhi’s neighbourhoods. Whilst people strive for grander, trendier houses, the value of the urban forest and the street tree cover is often overlooked in this process. This disappearing tree cover is a cause for serious concern.

Much added to our misfortune, in 2014, Delhi was announced as the world’s most polluted city by the WHO. This had the government take notice of the consequences of the rapid, mostly unplanned growth that Delhi is facing; and with it came many reforms. However, the reforms are limited in their scope, conception and implementation. There is a lot that neighbourhoods, communities and citizens can do at the local level to make their own lives better.

Trees help in regulating and improving the micro climate and quality of our immediate urban environments. If located close to buildings, they can act as an insulating layer, cooling buildings in the summer and keeping them warm in the winter. Older indian vernacular houses would have a tree in the central courtyard/ backyard. Even though our urban environments don’t provide for such a luxury, street trees can provide similar services and experiences.

Street trees have environmental, aesthetic, cultural, health and economic benefits. From oxygen production, to removal of pollutants, from reducing rainwater runoff, conserving soil moisture and maintaining water table, to providing shade, keeping areas cool and reducing the urban heat island effect, the importance of street trees can not be undermined.

They provide essential habitat for urban animals, such as birds, bats, squirrels and small rodents. In short, they contribute towards creating more livable neighbourhoods.

They are the link between nature-deprived citizens of the city and the natural world. Generations of artists, poets and writers have continued to be inspired by these creations of nature and created beautiful works of art for all eternity. Yet, we are unable to appreciate not just the beauty of these magnificent living beings, but also the essential ecosystem services they provide, without which we would be unable to survive in cities.

Inventories on the natural capital are limited, where they exist at all. This may lead to wrong decisions being made about the management and maintenance of natural capital. And we believe that our urban lives would be better spent if we engaged more with the limited

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REDUCTION IN LOCAL WARMING

RECHARGE OF GROUND WATER

flora and fauna we have access to in the cities. VV Tree Love is a step in this direction. It is a humble attempt to: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Identify, study and number the existing road side tree cover in Vasant Vihar for a better management and maintenance of this natural capital.

Identify where more trees can be planted Identify current problem areas, eg, concretisation of trees, termite infestations etc, and subsequently act on these with the help of local/ government bodies.

Initiate a a long term tree study and monitoring program; and encourage residents to build a sustainable and fostering relationship with the street trees outside their houses and largely with the street trees in the neighbourhood.

Build a community and platform for a sustainable interaction of residents with the flora and fauna in the neighbourhood.

With the help of Pradeep Krishen’s field guide– Trees of Delhi; we all turned into avid explorers in our own neighbourhood. It was as if we were children again, identifying, hugging and foraging trees for the various birds, bees, insects, flowers; writing poems and appreciating the magnificent life force that these trees are.

creating awareness

regulating pruning

ENSURING longevity cleaner Air

planning plantation

REGULATING FELLING

MAINTAINING A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM AND BIOdiversity

Reduction in sound pollution

Adapted from Tree Census Report: Sarvodaya Enclave

by Compassionate living.

Link: http://bit.ly/2us1L00

LETTER FROM THE RWA PRESIDENT’S Suresh Goel DESK President, VVRWA

Nature and plants have always been close to my heart. I have fond memories from when I was a young boy– of Imli trees from Gol Dak Khana to Central Secretariat, Jamun Trees on Rajpath and Ber Bushes on the ridge (back side of my school and Birla Mandir). Chandni and Kanear flowers in our residence park along the boundary wall, planting Sadabahar, Tulsi etc in our house. In Vasant Vihar, I brought a Mango plant from Mujjafar Nagar, which is still giving Mangoes every year.

When the two young energetic girls from my neighbourhood Ms. Vallari Sheel and Ms. Aditi Veena approached me with an idea of Tree Census in Vasant Vihar, and after knowing the detailed program, my response was spontaneous and positive. We started the same in the month of May 2015. Everyday morning and evening I was moving from one street to another street with young residents totaling up to 20 in number. The age gap between them and me seemed to vanish after a week. I used to joke with them and via versa.

I have seen how much these kids love nature, trees and environment in their own neighbourhood– Vasant Vihar.

One of the kids told me, “uncle, we need a Chipko movement in Vasant Vihar!” Whenever these kids used to find nails or wires around the trees, they really used to cry and would carry pliers with them to help the trees

gain respite. It was an experience that I have no words to explain.

Today, I have 20 young school going kids as my dear dear friends. My earning is love for Vasant Vihar and my young children, who are the future of this colony. An example of my earning – I had gone to ‘F’ block for their Annual Lunch when two of these kids came to me with a card. They gave me the card, it was a big “THANK YOU” written on it. I love all these children.

It was a surprise to find the rare plants/trees in our Vasant Vihar like Sita Ashok, Jungle Jalebi, Arjun Tree.

Sita Ashok is a rare plant in entire Delhi, Hardly two or three in Delhi.

Lastly for the funds, we were supported by Mr. Deepa Mittal, Managing Director, Sonalika Group – who came to our rescue, and we sailed through the project.

VA S A N T V I H A R R E S I D E N T S ’ W E L FA R E A S S O C I AT I O N

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APPRECIATION Meenakshi Lekhi, MP, Lok Sabha Radhey Shyam Sharma, SDMC Deepak Mittal, Sonalika Social Development Society

RESIDENTS’ EXPERIENCES • MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE TREES

07 “Blessed is the house on which the shade of a tree gently falls.

These words by Ruskin Bond have always inspired me. I have always been a nature lover and activities such as this tree census have brought me close to nature. In our everyday life we don’t notice the trees around us like the way we do during such events. Its a great opportunity for people like me to know more about trees. When I am around trees and animals I feel connected and secure. It’s like the trees are protecting me!

They can be really good friends. During this census I came across some new varieties of trees as well like the Sita Ashok, African Sausage tree and an exotic Fiddleleaf Fig tree. I never knew there was tree called Jungle Jalebi! Overall the experience has been really exciting for me, my sister, my parents and also for my friends. I would like to thank Vallari and Aditi didi for give me such a great exposure” ANUKRITI CHAWLA

08 Being a working mother of two children, I never found time to connect with nature. The tree censes has filled that lacuna for me. My Saturday and Sunday mornings have not been better. I see a lot more birds and butterflies now, which I am sure, must have been there all the time, but I was too busy in my world to see them.

People often ask me how this census is going to help. I don’t know for others but I am sure it is helping me a lot. I am a much happier person now, knowing that I am trying to do my little bit for our society and hoping that a change will happen when people will treat these good old trees with a lot of love and care. After all, every single drop in the ocean counts. Also, thanks to Vallari, my daughters now know more than I do, and often come to my aid when I am not able to identify a tree!

MANJULA CHAWLA

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VASANT VIHAR AT A GLANCE 164 acres

~10000 residents

52 parks

~5000 street trees

6 blocks

~8000 cars

17 schools

1353 plots, 4000 dwelling units

5 local markets Govt. Servants Co-operative House Building Society Ltd. was formed in the year 1592. In the year 1968 allotment of plots started and in the year 1969 construction started.

Common known trees were planted along the streets. The density of trees is more or less quite even all around Vasant Vihar.

BENEFITS OF TREES/ ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

01 Provisional

02 Regulatory

03 Supporting

GULMOHAR TREE

AMALTAS TREE LINED STREETS

A lady bug

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04 Cultural

The benefits provided by the natural capital are not marketable and are hence often undervalued. Given the importance of trees in an urban environment, it is important that this knowledge be available and trees be studied in order for us to protect, enhance and maintain our urban forests. Some of the ecosystem services trees provide in an urban context are enlisted below: 1 ECONOMIC: Property values and consumer investment varies significantly in landscaped districts with trees as opposed to non landscaped districts.

2 SOCIAL & HEALTH: Increase walkability on streets (shade), make for better urban environments for people to interact with each other apart from improving mental health and overall well being.

3 ENVIRONMENTAL: Pollution interception, carbon sequestration, reduction in energy usage by regulating temperatures, noise reduction, storm water interception and micro climate control for urban areas, 4 AESTHETIC The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) (2005) provide frameworks to examine the possible goods and services that ecosystems can deliver, according to four categories: Provisional, regulatory, supporting and cultural which are described with images.

Providers of Oxygen, Food [They provide fruits and nuts for humans and wildlife. Flowers contain nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects], Shade, Wood and waste for composting.

Regulate pollution levels, Reduce flooding [localised flooding by intercepting rainfall and maintaining soil permeability], store carbon [As trees grow they accumulate carbon in their woody tissues, reducing the amount of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.]

Trees support biodiversity and wildlife. An increase in tree diversity will benefit a host of insects, birds and mammals in our towns and cities.

Trisha, Bani, Sanvi and Smera hugging a tree.

Improve social cohesion, reduce crime, assist recovery time, improve mental health and well being

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TREE COUNT (4993* trees) VASANT VIHAR MAJOR VARIETY OF TREES → Pie chart showing street trees in Vasant Vihar exhibit low biodiversity. 2 Non-indegenous species– Ashok & Saptaparni account for 37% of all trees. Other prominent trees include Amaltas, Karanj, Gulmohar, Bakain and Neem.

DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES ↓ 1000

Log scale showing occurrence of tree species.

There exists a big disparity between the numbers of different tree species.

100

No. of trees

→

10

1

0

Tree species →

~79 FLOWERING SPECIES ~9 FRUITING TREES ~11 SPECIES OF FICUS ~4 species of PALMS ~2 species of PINES

PINES & PALMS ↓

*Bauhinia, Eucalyptus and Champa have not been identified to species level.

11 SPECIES OF FICUS ↓

Out of the 4 Palms only Date Palm is native to Delhi.

Including Banyan, Peepul, Pilkhan, Goolar and Laurel Fig

9 SPECIES OF FRUITING TREES ↓

EXOTIC FLOWERING TREES ↓

Including Jamun, Shahtoot, Mango, and cultivated species like Pomegranate, Guava and Shareefa

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Including Pink Cassia and Carribbean Trumpet Tree

NATIVE & NATURALISED SPECIES ↓ Account for only about 27% of all trees.

1000

100

10

→

52 NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES 30 NATIVE or NATURALIZED SPECIES >4 FLOWERING EXOTIC TREES

FACTS & FIGURES

1

0

species TreeTree species → →

No. of trees

>92 UNIQUE SPECIES OF TREES

3859!

TERMITE INFESTATIONS

CHOKING TREES

No. of trees

→

HEALTH STATISTICS

793

Trees completely choked and have no space for water to percolate.

Problems →

Healthy/ Unhealthy 1/3rd of all trees were found to be unhealthy; they were either termite infested, dead or drying, had been indiscriminately lopped or had intrusions such as nails, barbed wires and tree guards cutting into the tree trunk. These intrusions become the entry points for fungus and other diseases. Wires and tree guards choke the branches and trunks preventing

them to grow and expand.

Even though 66% of the trees were relatively healthy, several of them were completely choked by cement, concrete or tiles at the base. This does not allow air and water to percolate to the tree roots, thus reducing the lifespan of the tree considerably. Such trees are also prone to falling in storms and heavy rains. Several

TOP: Termite infested tree BOTTOM: Hollow tree broken by storm

other trees had garbage stuffed into the hollows of their trunks or littered all around. Trees around construction activities were severely damaged.

3859 Trees with less than adequate space needed for survival

764

58

> 450

SEVERAL

SEVERAL

SEVERAL

LOPPED

DEAD AND DRYING

INTRUSIONS:

OBTRUSIONS:

MISHANDLED:

NAILS, TREE GUARDS, WIRES, CABLES

‘CHABUTRAS’, TILES

DISAPPEARING TREES

Chabutra around a tree confine expansion and make it impossible for water to percolate

TOP: Tree removed and not replaced BOTTOM: VV loses street trees to builder houses.

A badly lopped Peepal tree.

Dead tree– needs replacing.

TOP & BOTTOM: Wires strangling trees.

MIDDLE: Nails make trees cry.

373 with nails and 56 trees with wires and 46 trees choking with tree guards

CONSTRUCTION AND GARBAGE

TOP: Pollution around the tree– the tree cannot digest it all.

BOTTOM: Tree bending from pressures of construction

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METHODOLOGY FOR CENSUS The following specific information about street trees with a trunk girth above 30 cm was recorded. Trees below this size were not considered as part of the survey following standard forestry practice.

• The number of trees and species of trees present.

• The location of trees • Size of the trees, including height, canopy spread and DBH (diameter at breast height) of trunk • The health of the trees including infections, chocking and nails.

• Open soil around the trees and finish of ground around the soil.

• Spaces to plant trees were identified This survey was carried out with the help of volunteers. Data was then compiled and analysed and compiled with the help of data analysts.

Example: A survey sheet of F-8 street.

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DIVERSITY OF TREES IN VASANT VIHAR Name of Tree

Scientific Name

Akash Neem

Millingtonia hortensis

Status (I Indigenous/Native, NI - NonIndigenous, others) NI

Alii Fig Amaltas Anjeer

Ficus binnendijkii 'Alii' Cassia fistula Ficus palmata

NI I I

Arjun

Terminalia arjuna

I

Ashok

Polyalthia longifolia

NI

Babool

Acacia nilotica subsp. Indica

I

Bael

Aegle marmelos

I

Bakain

Melia azadarichta

Chandni

Tabernaemontana divaricata NI

Chikrassy

Chukrasia tabularis

Ficus benjamina

Bauhinia

Bauhinia racemosa, B variegata, B purpurea, Bauhinia x Blackenea

Ber

Zizyphus mauritiana

I

Bottle Palm

Roystonea regia

NI

California Fan Palm

Washingtonia filifera

NI

sp racemosa is I, others naturalised

Caribbean Trumpet Tree (Yellow)

Tabebuia aurea

NI

Champa Chamrod

Plumeria rubra and P obtusa Ehretia laevis

NI I

Jhand

Prosopis cineraria

Jungle Jalebi

Pithecellobium dulce

NI

Copperpod Doon Siris

Peltophorum pterocarpum Albizia procera

NI NI

Earpod Wattle

Acacia auriculiformes

NI

Eucalyptus Fiddleleaf Fig Goolar

Eucalyptus spp.

Ficus lyrata Ficus racemosa

NI NI I

Guava Gulmohur

Psidium guajava Delonix regia

NI, fruit tree NI

Harshingar

Nyctanthes arbortristis

I

Karanj

Pongamia pinnata

I

Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosasinensis

Unknown Virtually Indegenous

Carissa congesta Senna siamea

Unknown NI

Imli

Tamarindus indicus

Karaunda Kassod

Indian Coral Tree

Erythrinia variegata

Khirni

Manilkara hexandra

NI

Indian Tulip Tree

Thespesia populnea

Kusum

Schleichera oleosa

I

Lagerstromia

Lagerstromia indica

NI

Jacaranda

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus

NI

Laurel Fig Lemon

Ficus microcarpa Citrus limon

I Fruit Tree

Jadi Jaggery Palm

Ficus amplissima Caryota urens

NI NI

Maharukh

Ailanthus excelsia

Naturalised

Mango

Mangifera indica

I

Marodphali

Fernandoa adenophyllum

NI

Maulsri

Mimusops elengi

NI

Jamun

Syzigium cumini & Syzigium nervosum

Jatropha

Jatropha integerrima

NI

Kadi patta

Bergera koenigii

I

Kaim

Mitragyna parviflora

I

Kamini

Murraya paniculata

Kanak Champa

Pterospermum acerifolium

Kaner

Thevetia peruviana

Kapok

Ceiba pentandra

Unknown NI

NI Fruit tree

Neem Palm spp Peepul Pilkhan Pink Cassia Pink Floss-Silk Tree

Azadarichta indica

Naturalised

Ficus religiosa Ficus virens Cassia javanica

Naturalised I NI

Ceiba speciosa

NI

Pink Trumpet Tree Pink/Red Cassia

Tabebuia impetiginosa

NI

Pomegranate

I

Sonjna

Moringa oliefera

I

Subabool

Leucaena leucocephala

NI

Tada

Pterospermum xylocarpum

NI

Teak

Tectona grandis

NI

Vilaiti Keekar

Prosopis juliflora

NI, invasive

Weeping Bottlebrush

Callistemon viminalis

NI

Weeping Fig

Ficus benjamina

Unknown

NI

Whistling Pine

Casuarina equisetifolia

NI

Punica granatum

NI, fruit tree

Phoenix sylvestris

I

Putranjiva

Drypetes roxburghii

Wild Date Palm

NI

Yellow Bells

Tacoma stans

NI

Red Cassia Rubber Plant

Cassia roxburghii Ficus elastica

NI NI

Saptaparni

Alstonia scholaris

NI

Sausage Tree Semal Shahtoot

Kigelia africana Bombax ceiba Morus alba

NI I Naturalised

Shareefa

Annona squamosa

NI, fruit tree

Shisham

Dalbergia sissoo

Naturalised

Silky Oak Siris

Gravellia robusta Albizia lebbeck

NI I, Naturalised

Sirsa Sita Ashok

Dalbergia lanceolaria subsp. lanceolaria Saraca asoca

NI

NI

Unknown

Millettia peguensis Citrus mitis

NI

NI NI

Moulmein Rosewood Narangi

I

Pinus roxburghii

I

NI

Parkinsonia aculeata

Chir Pine

Unknown

Banyan

NI

Jerusalem Thorn

possibly I NI

SOURCE → Common names, scientific names and Status from Trees of Delhi by Pradeep Krishen.

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SOME GOOD EXAMPLES & HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE TREES OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE Urban trees are often imposed to face a tough environment. The roots struggle for space due to construction; the trees are often choked inhibiting water to percolate into the ground, they might be subject to termite and other infections and are lopped instead of being pruned.

Here’s how you can ensure the tree outside your house is happy and healthy.

(1) ROOT SPACE If the roots of the tree have no space to grow, the tree would have a hard time surviving. Over cementing can be (2) OPEN SOIL AROUND THE TREE It is essential that the tree has at least 3’x3’ of open space and has no obtrusions or a ‘chabutra’ to ensure water percolates down into the roots. Pavements beyond can preferably be constructed with porous material like brick rather than with cement.

(3) CARE The open soil around the tree can be planted with grass/ small plants/creepers to hold the soil.

It is a good idea to check on the tree from time to time and report it if it has termite/ any other infestations on it. Also, one can check if the tree is drying up or is dead. These trees can then be replaced.

(4) PRUNING Trees should be pruned with utmost care. Lopping is a tree damaging activity– it removes the leaves (the food source).

Clockwise from the top: 1. A new builder house has saved the tree and planned it’s column to be behind it.

2. Plantation around tree 3. Enough open soil around tree for the tree to be healthy 4. A lane of trees shading the pavement.

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BIRD DIVERSITY IN VASANT VIHAR Vijay & Saroj Kiyawat | Artist and avid birdwatchers

It was March. Sitting in the living room of our home, we could hear the continuous sharp chorus of some 100 birds on the large Peepal tree outside. The flock shifted from tree to tree during the day. Being experienced birders, we knew these were Rosy Pastors (गुलाबी मैना).

These were returning via different parts of North India to Eastern Europe from where they had migrated into India in July, spreading throughout the whole country.

Our peaceful Vasant Vihar has a fairly rich bird life. Over some time we have observed that the E-10 Park alone is visited by some 42 species of birds. If we do a careful study over some years, we could perhaps list 100 species visiting Vasant Vihar. The fascinating hobby of bird-watching has several rewards like long early morning walks, fresh healthy air of jungles & parks, sharpening our observation, gaining knowledge of connected subjects such as trees, flowers, insects, ecology, and photography. Here are pictures of some birds spotted by us in Vasant Vihar.

Hoopoe

Coppersmith Barbett

Purple Rumped Sunbird: Male In our balcony

Redwhiskered Bulbul

Magpie Robin– Male: You will hear it in April-May

White Breasted Kingfisher in our Balcony White Eye

Tailor Bird

Drongo

LOOK OUT FOR THESE GORGEOUS FLOWERS!

FLOWERING CALENDAR →

Some locations are marked for all these trees.

However, you can find many more of these in your walks around Vasant Vihar.

Peak blooming time of these flowers is mentioned.

However trees may start blooming before and continue to bloom after these mentioned time periods.

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1 12

3 1

NEEM at A1/3, At 39 Vasant Marg, At D4/3, Opp F6/2

14 5 7 14 3

SAUSAGE TREE at B3/24, Opp C4/1

6 14

2

13 11

4

6

2

9 4

YELLOW BELLS at 24 Paschimi Marg 8 4

MOULMEIN ROSEWOOD Opp B2/17, F10/1 At E14/9

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FLOWERING MAP ↓

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20

Spring

Summer

Monsoon

Autumn

Winter

Mid February– Mid April Indian Coral Tree, Semal, Kamini, Bakain, Kapok, Sita Ashok, Siris, Jacaranda, Jungle Jalebi, Sheesham, Moulmein Rosewood, Bottlebrush, Kachnar, Chamrod, Kanak Champa, Bottle Brush, Neem

Mid April– June Pink Cassia, Red Cassia, Jacaranda, Gulmohar, Amaltas, Copperpod, Karanj, Moulsri, Arjun, Champa, Kaim, Kaner, Neem, Sausage Tree,

July– September Babool, Kamini, Red Cassia, Copperpod, Doon Siris, Marod Phali, Earpod Watle, Moulsari, Chamrod, Champa, Kaim, Kaner, Kassod

October– November Pink floss silk tree, Saptaparni, Harshingar, Kassod

December – Mid February Saptaparni, Tecoma, Chamrod, Kachnar,

HOW TO USE THE MAP AND CALENDAR Colour codes are for Seasons and numbers are to correspond trees on the map.

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HARSHINGAR at A14/4 at D3/11, st E7/6,

5

SITA ASHOK at A13/4

7

13

9

KARANJ at D4/1, at 20 Vasant Marg,

AMALTAS at A12/6, at C1/8, at F9/7

KANAK CHAMPA at A9/10, at F2/4 12

CHAMPA at C10/6, at F5/3, At B3/13

6

GULMOHAR at D1/12, at E1/1, at F10/2 10 8

JACARANDA at D

SIRIS at Tagore Int., at B6/23, opp E10/1

14 BAUHINIA At A15/1, at B2/1, at E14/18, at C5/2, D2A/6

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CONCLUSION & WAY FORWARD This study has helped us gain a deeper understanding of the natural wealth around us. We know more about the kinds of trees, common problems and some critical issues. As a community, we need to understand the value of these trees as our natural wealth and together, we need to take care of them.

This exercise is not over. It is a long term ecological endeavor. Data helps us make better decisions. This exercise needs to be repeated every few years. It is now for us to put this knowledge in use to be able to better maintain our natural heritage. We can all take care and responsibility for the trees outside our houses and the trees opposite our houses in case of parkfacing houses. This way we can ensure all trees are happy and healthy.

Here are a few steps to be taken in the future:

1. TREE IDENTITY All trees have been assigned numbers. 70% of these trees have been painted upon and the remaining– in blocks C & D need to be painted ASAP.

2. SUSTAIN EXISTING TREE COVER Through this study we have found that the trees exhibit several problems. These need to be dealt with in a sensitive manner– (1) De-Choking drive: (Annexture 1) All trees that have cement choking at the bottom need de-concretisation. MCD and PWD need to be approached for de-choking trees on their respective roads.

(1) Planning: (Annexture 4) Spaces to plant trees outside houses and parks have been identified. A majority of these spaces are trees that have disappeared after reconstruction as builder houses. Increasing the tree cover is extremely important. Old trees will soon die and we need to plan for a replantation scheme for the future. We can start with the identified spaces. Residents can approach the RWA/ MCD/ PWD/ Horticulture department to plant trees outside their houses.

(3) Miscellaneous Problems (Annexture 3) Intrusions such as choking tree guards, wires, nails need to be removed.

(2) Planting right (Annexture 5) A list of trees to be encouraged and discouraged is mentioned in Annexture 5.

Planting a native tree is better because native trees have adapted to the local climate of a place over millions of years. They are stronger, more resilient, support more life, use less water and look beautiful! This list has been made taking help from Pardeep Krishen’s list of 100 most suited species to Delhi.

3. INCREASING TREE COVER

4. PHASE II

(2) Termite treatment: (Annexture 2) Trees that require termite treatments can be dealt with sensitively. Possibilities of using an organic treatment method can be explored. From neem extract to a lime wash. The horticulture department needs to be approached for treating the trees.

VV Tree Love is an ongoing long term exercise

22 to be able to better manage and enjoy our natural wealth.

(1) PHASE II Census: With the Phase II census we will be able to geolocate all trees and will be able to digitise all data. Also, we will be able to identify the trees that have gone missing since the census was anticipated. This will help us to (2) Educational workshop for residents and builders: A drive will be arranged for builders to ensure that they explore opportunities in their designs to incorporate trees inside and outside of the building. All interested residents are welcome to join.

Finally, Living in a residential neighbourhood like Vasant Vihar is a privilege because of the wide tree lined streets, lovely parks and comfortable plot sizes. This lifestyle is incomplete without trees. If we all spend some time and effort looking after the natural wealth that has been given to us, our neighbourhood would be a greener and better place.

23 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This tree census would not have been possible without two people – Pradeep Krishen, whose book ‘Trees of Delhi’ was our Bible and which inspired us to observe trees closely, and Padmava@ Dwivedi, a tree ac@vist who first ci@zen-led tree census in Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi served as an inspira@on for the current tree census.

When we started this project, we were unsure how we would complete such a massive task. It would have been impossible without our team of volunteers, our army of children – Anukri@ and Anuva Chawla, Trisha and Bhavya Sodhi, Saanvi and Smera Sood, Bismun Kaur, Ananya Kumar & Neil Grover – and the support of their parents. Several adults also came forth – Vijay and Saroj Kiyawat, who took the onus of comple@ng the census of E-block all on their own, Manoj Gupta, Geeta Kumar, Ekta Jain, Alka Sheel & Veena Gupta. Others volunteered from @me to @me, but their contribu@on was just as important – Mehak Chauhan, Nikita Bedi, Ose and Vedant Kohli, Shaurya and Saumya Jain,

Authors and Census Leaders Vallari Sheel and Aditi Veena Photos Vallari Sheel, Manjari Sheel, Nandita Raman and Vijay Kiyawat and Aditi Veena Design, layout and sketches Aditi Veena at The city is but a garden

Diya, Manjula and Ashwin Chawla, Sa@sh Gupta, Sunil Sheel, Veena Bhatnagar, Rekha Sharma, Versha Malhotra & Supriya Mathur.

Ajay Mahajan helped with the iden@fica@on of several species we were having trouble with, and was also an encyclopedia of informa@on on trees. Pradeep Chauhan, Manjula Chawla, Deepak Kumra, Kavita Agrawal, Sheena Chaudhry, Nayan Shah, Pranay Tewari, Lopa Priyadarshini, Sneha Sharma, Jitendra, Richa Gupta & Peter Tharian helped with data entry, while Angira Thakur and Dhairya Gupta helped with data analysis. Nandita Raman and Vinith Bora helped with photo- and video-graphy. Kavan Balasuriya designed us this beau@ful logo. Neelam Kshetrapal, Manjari Sheel, Ashish Gupta, Karuna Gupta & Kanta Soni assisted in various capaci@es.

This community project was brought to frui@on only due to the contribu@on of these people. Do forgive us if we have missed your name; it was not by inten@on!

find us here: www.vvTREElove.tumblr.com @THECITYISBUTAGARDEN SIGN UP on google groups Link TO ALL DATA

Please do get in touch with us. We would love to hear what you think and feel and/or if you’d like to join the movement and team. You can write to us on the blog or find us in the links mentioned on the right.

VA S A N T V I H A R R E S I D E N T S ’ W E L FA R E A S S O C I AT I O N