1,21,789 trees counted across all 65 wards is not small thing ah .
The initiative is called 'Nammara Tree Census' and it has now become one of largest citizen-led urban tree censuses in Karnataka . It was led by Bherunda Foundation under Ms. Trishika Kumari Wadiyar,and whole project took six months to complete.
And what I liked here is that this is not just some random counting exercise . Preliminary findings are already ready,and detailed scientific report is expected in August 2026 with species-wise analysis,carbon sequestration data and list of heritage trees .
That means Mysuru will actually know what kind of tree wealth it has,where trees are located,and which ones need more protection . For city known for old green spaces from Wadiyar dynasty time,this feels connected to history also.
Few things standing out clearly in this project:
- Over 520 volunteers participated in tree census .
- Future mapping will include parks and educational institutions.
- Detailed analysis and conservation recommendations are expected in August 2026.
The project also picked up pace after memorandum of understanding was signed between Mysuru City Corporation and Centre for Advanced Learning in October 2025 . That helped bring educational institutions,civil society organizations and other groups together.
And honestly,citizen involvement from different backgrounds makes data more meaningful . Because people who walk same streets daily often notice tree health,cutting risks and local changes much faster than officials sitting in office.
Now public data portal is also being developed,where residents can search trees by species or ward and report concerns about tree health . If this works properly,it can become living record of Mysuru’s ecological landscape,not just one-time database forgotten after launch .
But real test starts after counting is over only . Will this data actually stop careless tree cutting,help planning,and make future generations value urban greenery more… or will it just sit quietly in some portal?
