NEWS

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN-FAO) has recognized Hyderabad and Mumbai jointly as the ‘2021 Tree City of the World

DETAILS

• WHY – Commitment to maintaining and growing greenery and urban trees so as to build resilient, healthy, and happy cities
• First time Mumbai has made it to the list
• Hyderabad has been featured on this list for the second consecutive year.
• Programme was started by the UN-FAO and Arbor Day Foundation, an American non-profit organisation
• AIM – To recognise towns and cities across the world that are committed to ensuring that their trees and urban forests are sustainably managed, properly maintained, and duly celebrated
• Assistance, direction, and worldwide recognition is provided to those communities that are showing dedication to their urban forest. The programme also provides a framework for a sustainable and healthy urban forestry programme in a city or a town.

CRITERION FOR RECOGNITION

A City

• Must delegate responsibility for the caring of trees within the municipal boundary to a city department, a staff member, or a group of citizens known as a Tree Board
• law or an official policy must be in place in the city to govern the management of trees and forests
• Must also have an updated assessment or inventory of the local tree resources so that it can establish an effective long-term plan for caring for, planting, and removing city trees
• Must also have a dedicated annual budget for implementing a tree management plan. Must organise an annual celebration of trees with the aim of raising awareness among the people and must also acknowledge the citizens who have carried out the tree programme in the city.