Trees Citizen Matters, Chennai

Panel proposes practical and scientific ways to green Chennai

January 26, 2021 Laasya Shekhar

How can individuals and government agencies work together to protect the city’s trees? Insights from an online panel discussion organised by Citizen Matters Chennai

How you can adopt a park or green space in the city

January 20, 2021 Laasya Shekhar

At a time when green cover in Chennai is shrinking alarmingly, Greater Chennai Corporation’s new, easier park adoption scheme, PASUMAI, holds hope.

The surprising ecological history of Chennai

September 24, 2020 Jayshree Vencatesan, N Muthu Karthick, R J Ranjit Daniels and Anjana Vencatesan

Studies of the present ecology show that Chennai’s past could have been dominated by palmyra trees and thickets.

No waiting for the government, friends of Kotturpuram Tree Park begin replanting

November 20, 2019 Meenakshi Ramesh

Tired of waiting for PWD to fulfil its promise, volunteers sourced and planted saplings in an effort to restore the tree cover at Kotturpuram Tree Park.

‘We don’t want any trees in Chennai’

October 24, 2019 Meenakshi Ramesh

No one says we don’t want trees, but it appears that trees have no friends left among the various civic authorities in Chennai, as they go about brutally hacking, cutting and uprooting carefully nurtured trees.

சென்னையில் அடுத்த மரம் நடும்முன் நீங்கள் அறிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டியவை

October 3, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Afforestation drives are indeed most helpful and essential for ensuring an increase in the city’s green cover. But are we doing it the right way? A translation of our earlier article that told us what we must keep in mind as we take a pledge to plant more trees.

Here’s what you must know before you plant another tree in Chennai

September 25, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

While tree plantation drives are increasingly common across the city, planting non-native, invasive species could cause more harm than good. What should we keep in mind as we take a pledge to add to the city’s green cover?

Why some parts of Chennai felt hotter than others this summer

July 16, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

The Environmentalist Foundation of India has identified several heat pockets like Madhya Kailash, Avadi, parts of Mount Road. Research from earlier years also shows higher day temperatures in hubs like T Nagar and Ennore. Why is the Chennai summer growing hotter in some areas and what can be done to mitigate the impact?

Chennai Corporation plans to decentralise waste management, but how?

May 11, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

In an interview with Citizen Matters, Corporation Commissioner G Prakash talks about the plan to decentralise the handling and management of 100% of wet waste generated in the city, and the efforts under way to implement the same.

Shenoy Nagar residents fight to save Thiru Vi Ka Park

April 26, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Thiru Vi Ka park, which served as vital lung space for the neighbouring communities, has been closed to the public since 2011, when it was taken over for Metro construction. Now, with recent plans of the CMRL, the park and green cover may be lost forever, fear citizens.

Zooming into the environmental problems of a growing Chennai

April 19, 2019 Amirtharaj Stephen

A look at the environmental issues that Chennai faced since the 2014 national elections, through the camera lens.

Enter the jungle: Where in this busy city would you find 150 species of birds?

April 12, 2019 Seetha Gopalakrishnan

The Guindy National Park is not just a critical green lung in the heart of Chennai, but also an excellent space to showcase urban forest conservation. Let this photoessay take you on a visual stroll through the park with its marvellous display of flora and fauna.

Trees