BMRCL plans to adopt Miyawaki method to increase green cover

Using native trees, the method helps create forest cover more quickly than traditional approaches

Metro connectivity has expanded over the years, but at the cost of Bengaluru’s green cover. For the 42 km network under Phase I, 2,336 trees were axed. For phase II of Namma Metro, work on which is currently underway, 3,027 trees have been felled for the 72 km stretch. In addition to this, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) has marked more than 4,000 trees for removal to build the 58 km Airport line.

While it has taken up compensatory afforestation initiatives, BMRCL is also contemplating adopting the Miyawaki model to increase the green cover. Pioneered by Japanese botanist and ecologist Akira Miyawaki, the technique allows for growing dense forests comprising native trees on small patches of land. One of the ways this is done is by ensuring that tree growth is faster than traditional afforestation methods.