Citizens, Environmentalists Join Forces To Map Pune’s Flora Along Riverbanks (PHOTOS) | Sourced
To make Pune City livable again, several citizens, environmentalists and enthusiasts have started a mapping of flora in the city. The event was organised this weekend by the Pune River Revival and Jeevitnadi, groups of citizens and organisations dedicated to saving rivers along the banks of the Mula River.
The overall programme was organised to observe each tree, take photos, and record its name, description, latitude and longitude on a website. Students from Fergusson College, Ecological Society, ICER and Modern College participated in this initiative. Jeevitnadi activists and some botany experts guided them and provided information about the trees. The event mapped trees in two different belts: on Saturday, trees in Pimple Nilakh were mapped, and on Sunday, trees near the confluence of Ram and Mula rivers were surveyed.
Prajakta Mahajan, a volunteer at Pune River Revival, said, “Most of the trees we encountered were old-growth, heritage specimens, adding immense ecological and cultural value to the area. We also observed numerous lianas climbing these majestic trees. Among the species we identified were Walunj (Indian willow), Karanj (Pongamia pinnata), Shindi (Phoenix sylvestris), Umbar (Ficus), and Paan-Jambhul (Syzygium cumini), all of which contribute to the biodiversity and vitality of our environment. This was an enriching educational experience for the students. Everyone got to experience the immense natural splendour that has grown along the rivers of Pune over hundreds of years. All the participating members pledged to protect the trees, rivers and riverbanks.”
“Riparian forests are unique and fragile ecosystems. They are very important for environmental stability because they serve as critical buffers between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. During the mapping exercise, we got to experience and appreciate this natural treasure that has grown over centuries. Many are old-growth, heritage trees. With such a majestic and magical heritage, we don’t need to do any other beautification. We just need to stop polluting and destroying. We just need to keep it clean,” Mahajan added.
Tanishka Wagh, a student of Fergusson College, said, “I’m a commerce student and I don’t have much knowledge of flora and different species, but I participated in the mapping of flora because I feel we must preserve the natural habitat and our green cover. During this event, I mapped out a lot of flora with the help of the team, and it was a great experience to participate and do our bit to save the biodiversity.”
