UP to soon get new Japanese Miyawaki-style urban forests

Taking a step towards the goal of safe and clean environment in cities, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to create Miyawaki-style urban forests. This concept, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is focussed on dense plantation of trees in urban areas to create forests as natural oxygen factories in civic settlements. As per the plan of action, about 26 such urban forests will be installed across 13 UP districts, including Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi among others.

A six-month targeted plan is underway in Uttar Pradesh for the purpose of developing urban forests in Agra, Firozabad, Jhansi, Kanpur, Auraiyya, Hardoi, Hathras, Etawah, Rae Bareli, Moradabad and Amroha. As per reports, the state has already received about ₹1.40 crores of the total ₹2 crore fixed by the Union to develop urban forests. Plantation under this drive is most likely to be started on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, 2022.

Once these urban forests are ready, they will serve as a new not only tourists but locals will also get a natural picnic spot. The project is pegged to enhance the scope of eco-tourism in Uttar Pradesh, while acting as a control agent against the issue of pollution.

The upcoming urban forests in Uttar Pradesh will be developed as the new biodiversity hotspots with a wide variety of flora. These green centres will house shrubs, creepers, medicinal plants, fruit and flowers trees and other plants of ecological importance. Dedicated Smriti Van, Aarogya and Nakshatra Vatikas will also be planned here.

As per reports, the forests will also have areas for adventure sports, cycling track, pathways, open gym, joggers park and bench to attract locals and tourists all year long.

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University's Environment department professor Dr Venkatesh Dutta said gradually forest cover is reducing. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, Lakhimpr, Bahraich, Shahjahanpur and Pilibhit had natural forest. However, this has altered due to indiscriminate felling of trees.

Natural forests, where vegetation grows on its own, have reduced considerably in Uttar Pradesh. This is a clear sign of climate change. The ecological fabric of the state has suffered greatly due to the erratic weather and climate conditions. If the patterns continue, the green cover will soon deplete completely in Uttar Pradesh.

This is where the Miyawaki forest can be plugged in. The Japanese patch forest technique will create small yet dense forest lands in the state. These forests, in turn, will save the lungs of the cities and prevent the impact of climate change across.

- with inputs from IANS