UN-FAO: Mumbai and Hyderabad recognized as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’

UN-FAO: Mumbai and Hyderabad recognized as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’

What is the news :

• Mumbai and Hyderabad have been jointly recognised as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN-FAO) and Arbor Day Foundation.
• The two Indian cities have won the recognition for their “commitment to growing and maintaining urban trees and greenery in building healthy, resilient and happy cities”.
• While Mumbai has made the list for the first time, Hyderabad has featured on it for the second consecutive year.

What are the Tree Cities of the World?

• The ‘Tree Cities of the World’ is a programme started by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation and American non-profit organisation Arbor Day Foundation.
• It is an international effort “to recognise cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated”.
• The programme provides direction, assistance, and worldwide recognition for a community’s dedication to its urban forest. The programme provides a framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry programme in a town or city.

How can a city be recognised as a Tree City?

• A city is recognised as a ‘Tree City’ if it meets five core standards to show its commitment towards caring for its trees and forests.
• To be recognised as a Tree City, a city must have a written statement delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens – called a Tree Board.
• The city should have in place a law or an official policy to govern the management of forests and trees.
• The third core standard is to have an updated inventory or assessment of the local tree resource so that an effective long-term plan for planting, care, and removal of city trees can be established.
• The city should have a dedicated annual budget for the implementation of the tree management plan.
• To be recognised as a Tree City, it should organise an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among people and to acknowledge citizens who carried out the tree programme.

Why have Hyderabad and Mumbai been recognised as Tree Cities?

• A total of 138 cities have been recognised for the year 2021 under the programme.
• While Hyderabad planted more than 3.5 crore trees in 500 volunteer hours, Mumbai planted 42,5000 trees in 25,000 volunteer hours.
• The 138 cities planted 38,787,795 in 486,015 volunteer hours.
• The countries with maximum tree cities include the US, UK, and Canada, with 37, 19, and 18 cities respectively.

About  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO)is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
• The FAO is composed of 195 members(including 194 countries and the European Union).
• It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• Director General – Qu Dongyu

About United Nations (UN):

• The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization aiming to maintain international peaceand security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
• It is the world’s largest and most familiar international organization.
• Headquarter – New York city
• Founded – 24 october 1945
• Members – 193 member states, 2 observer states
• Secretary General – Antonio guterres.

Related news :

MP’s Indore Gets National Water Award for Best City in West Zone 

• Among the many feathers in the district’s cap, yet another was added to it when the district got the National Water Award from President Ramnath Kovind.
• The district stands at first place in making the best initiatives in water conservation among the districts of the country’s West Zone.