Connect with Trees, Green the Cities
Connect with Trees,
Green the Cities
Two Special Workshops Held in Mumbai on the Eve of ‘VrikshVardhan 2026’
Mumbai, March 6, 2026: On the eve of the Second International Arboriculture Conference ‘VrikshVardhan 2026’, themed ‘Growing Cities, Greener Canopies’, two significant pre-conference workshops were successfully held in Mumbai on Friday. The workshops were conducted simultaneously at Maharashtra Nature Park, Dharavi, and IES College of Architecture, Bandra West.
At Maharashtra Nature Park, Dharavi, the workshop titled ‘Trees Around Us – Combating Tree Blindness’ focused on reinforcing the importance of trees in urban areas and rebuilding the human connect with nature. The session was led by Dr. Prachi Gupta, Assistant Professor, School of Climate Change and Sustainability, Azim Premji University. Special emphasis was placed on the concept of ‘Tree Blindness’ — the tendency of urban dwellers to pass by trees daily without truly noticing them, gradually weakening their bond with nature.
Trees are not merely elements of the environment — they are the lifeblood of cities.
Various interactive activities were organised during the workshop to reconnect participants with nature, including a tree quiz, storytelling, and a guided nature walk through the park to identify different tree species. Discussions also covered the role of urban trees in reducing pollution, conservation of biodiversity, and folk traditions associated with trees.
Dr. Gupta noted that such workshops help citizens rediscover their local environment and inspire communities to preserve green spaces within cities. Similar workshops are regularly organised across various cities in the country, she added.
Workshop 2
At IES College of Architecture, Bandra West, Jeremy Barrell, Managing Director of Barrell Tree Consultancy, UK, guided participants through the workshop ‘Retaining Trees in Construction’, focusing on strategies to protect trees during urban construction projects. He underscored the need to maintain a balance between urban development and tree conservation.
He explained that while large-scale construction in cities often poses a threat to trees, proper planning, technical methods and regulatory policies can ensure their safety even during infrastructure projects. Barrell stressed the necessity of scientifically assessing the condition of trees and their root zones before construction begins.
He emphasised that arboriculture experts, architects, urban planners and policymakers must work in collaboration, presenting examples from European cities where such practices have been successfully implemented. He highlighted that climate change is now impacting nearly one billion people across approximately 40 countries, making the integration of trees into urban development urgent and essential.
Both workshops were organised as pre-conference sessions ahead of the Second International Arboriculture Conference scheduled for 7 and 8 March 2026 in Mumbai. The main conference will bring together global experts, urban planners, environmentalists and policymakers to deliberate on sustainable urban greening and tree conservation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and several distinguished dignitaries are expected to attend the inaugural ceremony.
🌳
India Urban Forestry Roundtable — Successfully Concluded
March 6, 2026 | Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai
On the eve of the Second International Arboriculture Conference (ATCA 2026) in Mumbai, the India Urban Forestry Roundtable was successfully held at Hotel Sahara Star. The roundtable brought together international experts as well as Indian experts and policymakers from across the globe.
🌍 International Experts
Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe (ISA Board President) · Caitlyn Pollihan (CEO, International Society of Arboriculture) · Sophie Plitt (Manager, Global Partnerships, Arbor Day Foundation) · Shannon Jerram (Project Development Lead, Arbor Day Foundation) · Jeet Mistry (Urban Forestry Officer & Green Cities Lead, FAO – United Nations)
🇮🇳 Indian Experts
Jitendra Pardeshi (BMC Mumbai) · Vaibhav Raje (Amenity Tree Care Association) · Dr. Chandrashekhar M. Biradar · Mr. Balasaheb Singh Chowhan · Dr. Anand Kumar (Adaptive Forestry For Future Foundation) · Dr. Monalisa Sen (ICLEI South Asia) · Priya Narayanan & Shruti Maliwar (WRI India) · Akshat Tyagi & Aavanit Taware (Give Me Trees Trust) · Dr. K. N. Murthy (TreeLands Foundation)
All experts expressed their views on the challenges facing urban forests in India, ongoing projects and their resolve to move forward through international cooperation. The roundtable concluded successfully with satisfactory outcomes.
Organisers: Amenity Tree Care Association (ATCA) | Arbor Day Foundation | FAO – Tree Cities of the World
Event: VrikshVardhan 2026 · Date: March 6–8, 2026 · Venue: Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai
Organised by: ATCA | Arbor Day Foundation | FAO