Goa Launches Urban Forestry Initiative to Combat Rising Temperatures and Enhance Climate Resilience

Panaji: In an effort to address rising urban temperatures and enhance climate resilience, the forest department, in collaboration with the urban development department, has proposed an urban forestry initiative to create green spaces across municipal areas in Goa.
The project aims to develop ‘green lungs’ within urban areas to improve air quality, support biodiversity, and provide shaded public environments, said minister for forests and urban development Vishwajit Rane.
Officials said that the initiative will utilise nature-based solutions to combat the heat island effect commonly experienced in densely built-up areas.
“This green mission aims to create vital ‘green lungs’ within city landscapes, that is, green spaces that will improve air quality, support biodiversity, and offer shaded, healthy public environments for citizens,” said Rane. “We are consulting all the municipal chairpersons and chief officers. We will act as facilitators and will take ideas and suggestions from them.”
At a recent meeting convened by Rane, the urban development and forest departments, key stakeholders — including municipal chairpersons, councillors, and senior officials—discussed the roadmap for the initiative. The forest department will take the lead in identifying feasible sites for pilot projects in various municipalities, said Rane.
Proposed interventions include the transformation of degraded areas such as Sonsoddo using the Miyawaki afforestation technique, along with the development of gardens in certain towns, said Rane.
The use of wet waste and rainwater harvesting methods is also being explored to sustain these green spaces.
The departments will jointly monitor the implementation of the project. “Sonsoddo will be transformed using the Miyawaki technique, while vertical gardens will come up across select urban zones. StudioPOD will assist us in designing these spaces. The project will be jointly monitored by the urban development development and forest departments as we move towards a more sustainable Goa.”