NEW DELHI, March 17: The Delhi forest department is planning a plantation target of 70.82 lakh for 2026-27 under its Green Action Plan (GAP), with officials saying activities are underway in this regard with pruning of canopies of older foliage to create conditions for sapling growth.
“There appears to be agreement on adopting the canopy opening method, following which plantation work can proceed,” an official said, indicating that the approach is still under consideration.
The official said discussion in this regard took place during a meeting held in February.
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Explaining the plantation method, the official said canopy opening involves selectively pruning dense tree cover to create gaps that allow sunlight to reach the ground, thereby improving conditions for planting new saplings and enhancing their survival rate by reducing competition for light, water and nutrients.
The approach is expected to be complemented by a three-layered plantation model, the official said, adding that it comprises tall native trees in the top canopy, smaller trees and shrubs in the middle canopy to trap dust and pollutants, and grasses and low-lying vegetation in the ground layer to prevent soil erosion and retain moisture.
“Together, the multi-tiered system is aimed at improving air quality, enhancing carbon absorption and supporting urban biodiversity. It also helps reduce pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone and carbon dioxide by trapping and absorbing them at different vegetation levels,” the official added.
The plantation target for 2026-27, the layered plantation model in view of limited land availability, and organising a training workshop for planting agencies were also discussed during the February meeting, according to the minutes.
The proposed target follows a review of the 2025-26 Green Action Plan, under which a target of 75 lakh plantations was set, against which an achievement of more than 67.98 lakh has been recorded so far, the minutes said.
Data presented by the Tree Authority showed that under the 2025–26 plan, 4.81 lakh trees, 41.82 lakh shrubs and 2.03 bamboo saplings were planted, while 5.03 saplings were distributed free of cost.
During the meeting, the chairman directed the remaining plantation target for 2025-26 be completed by March 2026 and asked all planting agencies to upload detailed plantation data on the GAP portal.
Officials said the portal is proposed to be modified to incorporate these requirements for better monitoring. The chairman also directed that a third-party audit of plantations carried out in the capital be undertaken, initially through satellite-based assessment followed by ground verification, with the forest department tasked to identify a suitable agency. (PTI)
