Chennai: The Chennai corporation is currently involved in identifying indigenous trees in the city, as part of the on-going tree census being done for the first time. The work is being carried out at Anna Nagar, Ambattur, Teynampet and Kodambakkam zones. After the study, vacant spaces will be identified and indigenous trees will be planted there. The vacant spaces include those which exist in burial grounds, parks, government offices and institutions.
Local residents are also involved in informing about the indigenous trees in their neighbourhood and about its history, officials say, adding that protection and maintenance of trees will be their next task. At present, plans are on to plant Madhuca longifolia (iluppai), Albizia saman (thoongu moonji maram), Cassia roxburghii (sigappu kondrai), Cassia fistula (manjal kondrai), Saraca asoca (asokam), Thespesia populnea (poovarasu), Terminalia catappa (almond), Albizia lebbeck (vaagai), Melia azedarach (vembu), Millettia pinnatta (pungai) and Millingtonia (maramalli) across the city.
The tree census announced in Chennai corporation budget 2014 will give a clear idea on the status of the green cover in the city, officials say.
It will not only help in maintaining and preserving existing trees, but also give an idea as to whether those trees are enough for the city and the current status of the trees is enough to help the climate or not. While environmentalists say the city has less than 5 per cent of green cover, tree census will improve the position up to 10 per cent, the officials say. Trees that are above 10 feet are counted. The enumeration process that began 10 months ago, will be completed in the next two to three months.
