A Sustainable Approach to Trees

Since the advent and evolution of civilisation, humans have been carving out spaces in forests; this activity became so intense over a period of time that we are now left with a low density of trees and a very sparse green cover. Nowadays, such tree cover is often witnessed in open spaces such as parks, pocket parks, water channels, beaches, the surroundings of a heritage building and along the roads in the cities.

Today, the public debate is mostly around conservation of existing trees and planting more of them. People are more aware and sensitive towards trees. As a result, we are witnessing a provision of mandatory open spaces in urban areas with the plantation of trees and/or planned construction activity to retain the existence of tree footprint. However, often it is seen that commercial decisions override green solutions, in this case trees, when it comes to real estate development that leads to the unpleasant situation of a land bereft of trees.

Fortunately, there are various ways to achieve both on-site protection of trees and overall real estate goals. It is possible to construct a dense canopy cover and make provisions to save it. If grey and green have to survive together, both must make a compromise. 

If a specific tree needs to be saved, our construction process needs to respond appropriately. It is important to know that not all trees can be saved, but the focus should be to save the maximum possible.

This brief write-up is primarily about measures to develop an urban footprint along with due consideration of the green footprint.

A methodical approach towards working around the green footprint
Implementation of the following measures which need to be followed during pre-construction, preparing trees and post-care stages.

Pre-construction stage
1. Conduct a vegetation survey: First and foremost, while dealing with such sites, it is critical to get the vegetation survey done. This survey will provide details like location, name of the species, girth and canopy. Once the information is collected, it’s important to study the survey and segregate the species in four different categories: very important (do not touch), less important in terms of type and size, the ficus species that can be transplanted easily and invasive species.

2. Hold a capacity-building workshop for key stakeholders: Before starting any work on site, it is very important to hold a workshop with not only the decision makers but also the on-site workers. Because they are the people who should be made aware of how sensitive they have to be while constructing next to a huge, beautiful and precious living tree.

Preparing and protecting stage
Trees and construction don’t usually go together, but there are ways and methods about how they can work in synergy. A tree should be prepared three months prior to construction. For example, imagine a man undergoing a surgery. Doctors would first prepare his mind, then his body by giving external supplements by means of medicine and then take him for surgery. And, most importantly, the doctors won’t discharge a patient till his wounds are healed completely.

It is exactly similar in the case of trees. They can be prepared by creating a pit equal to their canopy size called a ‘drip line’ and then their roots can be treated. Only the roots that need to be trimmed should be exposed and the process should be carried out gradually and at specific intervals. The total trimming of roots should not be more than 40% of the total root ball. This process protects the trees from shock, something that often leads to casualties. Never leave the trimmed roots open or untreated, as this can cause infection. Once the roots are healed, construction can begin.

A proper calculation of the time period needs to be carried out to avoid extreme hot and dry weather conditions during the tree preparation process. When working inside the drip line, one should always use hand tools as bulldosers harm the roots. Throughout the process, the trees should always be well-watered before and after digging and the exposed roots should be covered with soil or mulch as soon as possible. The defined area of tree protection should not be used for dumping any of the construction material. In case of an increase in grade, a layer of gravel should be added on top of the existing ground level.

Pre-care stage

A tree suffers a lot in this process, hence it is very important to monitor them regularly through all seasons. 

Trees should be closely checked for any infection on barks, branches or leaves. In case of infection, immediate and appropriate treatment should be given.

An integrated and inclusive approach, considering the green footprint, i.e. trees, during planning and implementation stage is the key to ensure overall sustainable development. We may not get back the forest in the urban context, however, we can certainly be closer to achieving the bigger green footprint by following simple ‘Tree Rules’ as cited in this article. The process should begin at the planning and design stage wherein the objective is to protect the existing green fabric and in addition, create a new one to bring out nuances of a sustainable green landscape in the urban context.

Subhagya Atale Raval is a Landscape Architect and founder of Lanarch, a landscape consultancy firm in Mumbai, India. Her key work principle is inclined towards conserving and enhancing the existing surroundings with the overarching objective of sustainable development.