Pune: Environmentalists and residents have urged caution over the forest department’s plan to remove Gliricidia plantations and introduce Miyawaksi-tyle native tree plantations on parts of Vetal Tekdi, warning that the initiative could harm the hill’s grassland and scrub forest ecosystem if not scientifically designed.The issue concerns two locations on Vetal Tekdi — a two-hectare patch behind the ARAI campus, where the removal of Gliricidia has already begun, and a one-hectare site near the Aapla Maruti temple where similar work is proposed.Members of the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), who recently met senior forest officials, raised concerns about the suitability of the Miyawaki method for the hill’s ecology. They said Pune’s Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) has assured them that a public consultation would be held once a detailed plantation plan was prepared.“Our concern with the Miyawaki method is that it is unsuitable for grassland and scrub forest ecosystems. It is also costly, water-intensive and requires continuous maintenance like watering, weeding and monitoring for at least five years,” a VTBKS member said.The residents have also questioned the availability of water for the proposed plantations, particularly given Pune’s recurring summer shortages. They said forest officials have assured that a comprehensive plan covering water requirements, native species selection and public consultations will be drawn up before the work proceeds further.“Ensuring water availability should be the first step before clearing large areas of reserved forest for plantation,” the VTBKS member said. The group expressed willingness to collaborate with the forest department and seek scientific inputs from ecologists and biodiversity experts.Ashish Nerlekar, a Ramanujan Fellow at IISER Pune, said the debate required a nuanced ecological perspective. Citing a recent study on Gliricidia plantations and bird diversity in Pune, he said, “It is a myth that birds do not use Gliricidia. Studies show that these plantations are used by birds in several cases.” He, however, emphasised that the larger concern was the absence of clearly defined ecological goals.“If the aim is to improve biodiversity, it needs to be clearly defined and measurable,” Nerlekar said, cautioning that dense Miyawaki plantations could overshadow native grasses and herbs that support much of Pune’s biodiversity.“All a Miyawaki plantation will do is create a patch of fast-growing trees while drastically reducing biodiversity in the grassy layer, which is crucial for Pune,” he said.Nerlekar pointed to global studies on grassland ecosystems showing that increased tree cover often came at the cost of native grasses and herbaceous species. “Adding trees on hills can reduce up to four native herbaceous or grass species per square metre. When scaled up, this could result in significant biodiversity loss,” he said.Forest officials, however, said the removal of exotic species and the plantation of native species aligned with approved forest management practices. A senior forest official said Gliricidia suppressed grass growth and offered limited ecological value to birds and insects. “Under Gliricidia, grass does not grow and birds do not nest. The basic principle of ecology is that birds should come, grass should grow, and the natural cycle should sustain itself,” the official said.The official added that the Miyawaki method had been implemented across Maharashtra since 2018 with high success rates, including in drought-prone regions like Marathwada. Preparatory work on the cleared two-hectare patch had already begun, and native species would be planted after the monsoon, the official said.
