Trees of Bhuj: Using big data to boost urban biodiversity and build a greener, smarter city

In the semi-arid landscape of Bhuj, Gujarat, something quietly remarkable is taking root—literally. While cities across India grapple with heat islands and vanishing green cover, Bhuj is building its climate resilience one tree at a time, powered by data, community action, and a deep respect for biodiversity.

On March 25, 2025, Bhuj celebrated the launch of Trees of Bhuj, a book authored by botanist and researcher Dr. Pankaj Joshi, and Dr. Ekta Joshi, faculty at Lalan College, Bhuj-Kutch. On the same day, a web portal (treesofbhuj.in) was also launched, providing detailed information on all the trees documented in the book.

But this isn’t just a pretty coffee table read—it’s a guide, a record, and a call to action. Launched alongside a dedicated portal (treesofbhuj.in), the initiative is a milestone in Bhuj’s biodiversity journey, backed by over 15 years of work by Home in the City (HIC), a collective of nonprofits reimagining urban futures. Home In the City (HIC) has been working to make the city of Bhuj in Gujarat a more inclusive, just, and ecologically sustainable city for all.

Why trees? Why now?

In a city like Bhuj, where water is scarce and summers are brutal, tree cover does more than just beautify—it safeguards water. Native trees selected through the initiative help reduce runoff, cool the microclimate, and protect groundwater. By aligning plantation efforts with piped water infrastructure, Bhuj is not only growing greener—it’s becoming more water-resilient. These trees aren’t just green dots on a map—they’re air filters, water regulators, bird sanctuaries, and medicine cabinets. The region has a vast tree population that plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.

From Tecomella undulata (Ragat Rohido) to Limonia acidissima (Kothi), many species have traditional uses and ecological roles. This initiative is documenting their stories before they’re lost—and using the information to plan for the future.

Dr. Pankaj Joshi said, “Conocarpus was found as the second-largest species after neem trees, which alarms all of us. There is a need to replace Conocarpus with native species for the sake of conserving biodiversity and human health.”

Trees of Bhuj documented several plant species having medicinal properties, such as Tecomella undulata (Ragat Rohido), Derris indica (Karanj), Bauhinia racemosa (Ashitro), Terminalia arjuna (Arjun Sadad), Vitex negundo (Nagod), Cordia gharaf (Gundi-Liyar), Sapindus emarginatus (Aritha), Limonia acidissima (Kothi), and Gmelina arborea (Sevan). This documentation will serve as a valuable reference for citizens and donors supporting plantation drives.

Several costs associated with the plantation drives—such as land levelling, drip irrigation networks, water tanks and pipelines, labour, supervision, and monitoring—have been covered by private donors. Government departments, such as the Social Forestry team, have provided native and subsidised saplings, while the Bhuj Municipality has supported the initiative by supplying piped water connections and benches, helping transform wastelands into public spaces.

Key benefits of the initiative

1. Species-wise Height & Girth

   • Measurement of tree height and girth helps in understanding growth patterns, carbon sequestration potential, and urban forest health.

   • These metrics aid in assessing species adaptation and survival rates in urban and semi-arid environments like Bhuj.

2. Medicinal & Ecological Importance

   • Several tree species have traditional medicinal uses, contributing to local herbal medicine practices. This knowledge has also been documented with help from local traditional medicine practitioners.

   • Trees play a critical role in water and soil conservation, air purification, and temperature regulation, improving urban resilience.

3. Biodiversity Support (Nesting & Roosting Sites)

   • Many trees act as natural habitats for birds, insects, and mammals, supporting local biodiversity.

   • Mapping these sites helps in the protection of key wildlife species and guides conservation efforts.

4. Conservation of Historic & Old Trees

   • Bhuj has several historically significant trees that need protection due to their cultural, ecological, and environmental value.

   • Conservation efforts focus on disease management, structural stability, and awareness programs to safeguard these trees.

5. Candidates Plus Trees (CPT) for Seed Collection

   • Selection of high-quality trees based on genetic superiority for seed collection and propagation.

   • The collected seeds will be used by the Forest Department for afforestation and ecological restoration projects in other urban landscapes.

Using data from the mobile application, a three-tier plantation initiative has been implemented in Bhuj’s urban landscape at the household, society, and ward levels. The selected plant species align with the dominant flora of respective areas, prioritising native species to support biodiversity and balance the ecological food web.

Over the past two years, more than 55 plant species have been selected, and over 7,000 saplings have been planted with a survival rate exceeding 90% across two clusters. In addition, dried saplings have been replaced through seed sowing to maintain the density of native species, particularly in rocky and saline patches.

The plantation drives have been largely supported by private donors, covering approximately 80% of the expenses, including sapling maintenance at multiple sites. HIC has played a critical role in identifying sites, mobilising citizens, and providing partial financial support to initiate the work.

“It is expected that ward-wise action plans that highlight existing rich areas and potential areas for future plantations will help the ward committees and Bhuj Municipality to have plantation drives and select appropriate plant species for specific locations,” said Aseem Mishra, Programme Director, HIC.  

From mapping biodiversity to planting native species and conserving old trees, Bhuj’s approach is both futuristic and rooted in tradition. It’s tech-led but people-powered. And most importantly, it shows how water, ecology, and community are deeply interlinked.

As we face rising temperatures, water stress, and ecological loss, Bhuj is offering a template worth replicating: protect what you have, plant what belongs, and plan with purpose. Because if a small city in a dry region can do this, what's stopping the rest of us?

Citations and references:                                    

Trees of Bhuj (book):  https://homesinthecity.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trees_of_Bhuj-compressed.pdf 

Trees of Bhuj (web portal): http://treesofbhuj.in/