PANAJI
In line with the Central government’s ‘Nagar Van Yojana’, the Goa government is set to launch ‘Urban Forestry’ initiatives across all municipalities in the State. It has also decided to transform the legacy garbage dump ” Sonsodo ” into a dense forest using a Japanese technique.
The Minister for Forest and Urban Development, Vishwajit Rane, on Wednesday chaired a meeting of officials of the Forest Department, Urban Development and Municipal Councils to discuss the relevance of urban forestry in the context of climate resilience and urban heat mitigation, and to take forward the initiative on creating green lungs.
“In a concerted effort to combat climate change and rising urban temperatures, the Forest Department, in collaboration with the Department of Urban Development, is set to launch a transformative Urban Forestry initiative across municipalities in Goa,” Rane announced on X.
Rane said that spaces will be identified and developed into urban forests using wet waste, rainwater, and other natural resources. He said that vertical gardens are also proposed in select urban zones.
“Sonsodo will be transformed using the Miyawaki technique (a Japanese revolutionary method of creating dense forests in limited spaces). StudioPOD will assist us in designing these spaces,” he said.
The Minister said that the green mission aims to create vital ‘green lungs’ within city landscapes ” green spaces that will improve air quality, support biodiversity, and offer shaded, healthy public environments for citizens. “This idea stems from the vision to tackle rising temperatures and is inspired by the call of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji to adopt sustainable, nature-based solutions,” he mentioned.
The meeting featured detailed presentations and interactive discussions on actionable steps to take the initiative forward. Emphasis was placed on the Forest Department’s pivotal role in identifying and supporting feasible sites within municipal areas for pilot projects. All chairpersons and councillors pledged their support towards this green mission.
