Shweta Thakur Nanda | 20 Feb 2025 | Haryana
In cities across India, a new trend is emerging where public land, private funding, and the expertise of civil society converge to create thriving urban forests. Corporations are increasingly channeling their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives into greening urban landscapes, transforming otherwise underutilized spaces into vibrant ecosystems.
Imagine driving along the Yamuna Expressway on a crisp winter afternoon. At first, endless stretches of concrete dominate the view. Suddenly, the scene transforms as you encounter a lush, green corridor—a pocket forest where the urban clamor of speeding vehicles and busy streets gives way to the gentle rustle of leaves and the soothing chirps of birds. This striking contrast epitomizes the essence of public-private partnerships: a deliberate effort to infuse nature into the heart of urban life.
These urban forests are far more than decorative green patches. They serve as natural carbon sinks, air purifiers, and effective mitigators of urban heat islands. By turning public land into these green sanctuaries, companies are not only fulfilling their CSR mandates but also investing in long-term environmental conservation.
Industry leaders emphasize that urban forests are a cornerstone of nature-based solutions. Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President of Global CSR at HCLTech and director of HCLFoundation, explains that the vision is to create or restore green urban spaces that improve air quality, curb pollution, and bolster biodiversity—all while engaging communities in environmental stewardship.
HCLFoundation, for instance, has played a pivotal role in establishing or rejuvenating more than 20 urban forests across several states, including the 10-acre Harit Upvan Amarpur near the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.
Other industry giants are also joining the movement. The RPG Group has pledged to conserve, restore, and plant one million trees by 2030 in states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal. Radha Goenka, Director of RPG Foundation, shares that her organization is currently developing two urban forests in Mumbai—one in the Malabar Hills and another near Haji Ali. Additionally, their ongoing support for Pune’s Udaan Biodiversity Park has been recognized in a UNDP and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change report, underscoring a broader corporate interest in urban biodiversity initiatives.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd has also made strides by employing Miyawaki’s rapid afforestation technique to establish small green pockets in public spaces across 13 cities, demonstrating that public-sector entities are equally committed to this cause.
India’s rapid urbanisation—with projections estimating that 600 million people will inhabit urban areas by 2036—comes at a significant environmental cost. Urban areas contribute up to 70% of global CO₂ emissions, largely from transportation and building activities, making the need for sustainable green infrastructure ever more pressing.
As cities expand, open spaces and natural green cover are rapidly diminishing. Leaders like Neeraj Nanda, President of KEC International, stress that balancing urban development with the preservation of green spaces is essential for sustainable growth. For corporations, the drive to invest in urban forests is not only a response to regulatory CSR mandates (such as the Companies Act 2013’s requirement to spend 2% of net profits on CSR) but also a recognition that long-term business viability is intertwined with a healthy environment.
Creating urban forests in metropolitan areas is resource-intensive. The cost of land, labour, maintenance, and even the initial soil preparation can be high, particularly when dealing with urban parcels that may be less fertile. Here, collaboration is key. By pooling resources and expertise, public-private partnerships enable the development of green spaces that might otherwise be out of reach.
Government initiatives like the Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) further complement these efforts. Implemented through state forest departments and urban local bodies, NVY aims to establish hundreds of green spaces—from urban forests to pocket parks—across the country over the next few years.
Well-managed urban forests deliver multiple benefits. Beyond their roles as carbon sinks and natural air filters, they help reduce noise pollution, manage stormwater runoff, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Moreover, these green pockets serve as havens for biodiversity and offer residents much-needed spaces for relaxation, exercise, and community interaction.
Artists and environmentalists alike celebrate these benefits. For example, artist Gopal Namjoshi, inspired by the restored Aravali Biodiversity Park in Gurugram, created a striking 2.5-metre-tall metal sculpture of an Indian eagle-owl—a species that had once disappeared from the area but is now returning thanks to renewed green spaces.
While many urban forest projects have opted for monoculture plantations to rapidly expand green cover, experts caution against this approach. Environmental lawyer Sankar Prasad Pani advocates for planting diverse, native species to ensure a resilient ecosystem that can attract a variety of birds and pollinators. Such diversity not only enhances the ecological health of the forest but also creates a network of “stepping stone” habitats across cities, allowing wildlife to flourish even outside these urban oases.
As urban areas continue to grow and the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, the collaborative creation of urban forests represents a vital strategy for sustainable development. By leveraging public land, private funds, and community expertise, these projects offer a blueprint for transforming urban environments into healthier, more resilient spaces—ensuring that the benefits of nature are shared by all.
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