Assessment of Green Spaces and its Conservation in Urban Areas of Delhi PPT

Assessment of Green Spaces and
its Conservation in Urban Areas
of Delhi
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Department of Physical Planning
School Of Planning and Architecture,
New Delhi

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School of
Planning and
Architecture
Delhi
4TH Year 8th Semester
Bachelors of Planning
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
1 Introduction
Legend
Assessment of Green Spaces and its Conservation in Urban Areas of
Delhi
Forests as a concept is very broad and
are defined in many ways this maybe
in terms of tree density, height, land
use, legal definitions or ecological
function. But broadly speaking
everyone recognizes forests as spaces
of large green areas, spaces with
various flora and fauna which has
been growing naturally for presumed
various centuries.
Forest/Green cover is the amount of
land area that is covered by forest.
Research Background
All this and more have been said to state the huge importance of Forest over along with green spaces in
Urban areas. But in various scenarios it can be seen that this invaluable resource of a Forest is being
obviously being impacted by the growing urban spaces. This is necessary across the all the urban spaces
in the country and in New Delhi.
And we perceive them as such as areas namely the
Forest Cover which are vast and expansive ideally
untouched lands which are far away from Urban
Spaces. But in almost all the instances Urban spaces
and Forest cover are very intimately connected due
in various ways. Urban spaces often contain pockets
and ridges of these large spaces of forest cover in
them or in many cases a boundary with them.
What are Forests?
Urban Forests and their
Necessity
Need for the Study

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School of
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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Introduction
Legend
Delhi
The Approach in the Thesis is to assess the Green Spaces of Delhi and their conservation while contrasting it with the aspect of
Increased Built up spaces and the type of Developments.
Aims And Objectives
Aim : To assess the Green Spaces and its conservation in Urban Spaces of Delhi
Objectives:
• To Study the various Forest/Green Cover Laws the Govern Indian and the country
• Study the Green and Forest cover standards used across the country and its situation
• To Study thew green spaces in urban Areas and in Particular Delhi
• Assess the integration of these green areas with the urban fabric of Delhi though the cases study
• Identifying the planning parameter to assess the green Spaces to see if the developments which effect the greens are Formal or Informal in
Delhi.
• To analyze the quantum of depletion through various processes
• Recommend alternatives in order to conserve the Green spaces
Scale
Research Methodology
GIS Mapping For the Case
Study and City
Maps and Visual Indicators from
Satellite imaging from 1980s to 2021
Land Use change and
Differentiation from Master
Plans and Satellite Images
Forest Cover Statistical Data
Accessibility of the greens Survey
On ground Survey
LULC Data of Delhi
NDVI Datasets
Raster Datasets
Status of Unauthorized
Development in Green Spaces
Delhi Forest Department
DDA
Bhuvan, ISRO
Google and Open Street Maps
Forestry Reports
Planned Developments in the
Green Spaces Status of Authorized Developments in green
spaces
Delhi Ridge Board
Sources
South Delhi Municipal Corporation
(SDMC)
2

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S K Srinivasa Naidu
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3
Legend
Understanding Forest Cover Laws: The Acts And Policies
Indian Forest Act
of 1865
The 1865 act's main purpose was to empowered the British Government was to declare any land covered with trees as a
government Forest and to make rules to manage it.
This was historically a significant act it was the first one of its kind where it was the first ever forest conservation act ever.
Acts
Over the years there have been various Acts and policies in India for the conservation and legality of forests. And India was the first territory in
the world to ever have any laws in terms of Forest and Habitat Conservation with the Charter of Indian Forestry, 1855 which was the first of, its
kind. But over years there have been various acts and policies which are more or still in act today which contribute to the aspects on how we
define, divide and conserve forest Spaces and other Habitat, might it be Urban or Rural.
Indian Forest Act
of 1878
In 1878 it was modified and Under this act all the forests were categorized into three parts namely Reserve, Protected
and Village Forests.
The aim of the Act was to remove local rights in the reserve Forests and keep the exclusively as British Government
reserves. .
Indian Forest Act
of 1927
The Indian Forest Act of 1927’s main aim was to regulate the movement of forest produce, and to levy duty on the forest
produce. This is the main Act which is still in effect as of 2021.
• Reserved Forests: Reserve Forest are the forests with the most restrictions and are mainly decided by the Presiding
government on any pertained forest/ waste land and these forests were decided to the Property of the government.
This has been amended to allow tribal population.
• Protected Forests: In these forest the government is given the power to constitute and control the trees and their
economical gains like Timber, fruit and also any other activities which have any revenue potential. These forests were
emphasized a lot in the given act.
• Village Forest: The Village are the once where the locals have some power over performing their traditional activities.
And it was stated that any community will have similar rights over Village forests to the government over any land
which were constituted as a reserved forest.
Note: Almost all the Forest cover under Urban Spaces comes under Reserved forests (acc to the act0 as most of them do
not have any direct economical gain like timber to qualify as protected forests.
Forest
Conservation Act,
1980
The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 was passed by the assess Parliament of India in order to provide for the conservation
of forests.
This Act was mainly constituted in order to keep restrictions on the de reservation of the forests and to stop the use of
forest land in no forest purposes.

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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
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4
Legend
Understanding Forest Cover Laws: The Acts And Policies
Forest Policy of 1894
The Policy mentioned the need for the maintenance of adequate forest cover was recognized for the
preservation of the nature of the climate and physical conditions of the country and for the fulfilment of the
people’s needs subject to the condition that The fulfilment of the needs of the local population at non-
competitive rated should override all consideration of revenue.
Policies
Indian Forest Policy,
1952
This policy this to Address the solid erosion and land degradation which was caused due to the over exploitation
and also One of the predominantly stated goals of this Policy was to have a third/ thirty-three percentage of the
land cover be under forest cover.
The policy at the same time stresses that even if the forests must be exploited they must not exceed the annual
growth in any pertaining forests.
National Forest Policy of
1988
National Forest Policy, 1988 was established to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological
balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all life forms, human, animal and
plant.
Delhi Preservation Of
Trees Act, 1994
The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act was intended to protect Delhi’s trees. Essentially for the permits for feeling of
trees in any cover and by levying fees against unlawful removal of Tree cover.
Inferences
• From all these documents it can be seen that the aspect of the conservation of the forests is not distinctive between Urban and Rural spaces
and it is understandable as these laws were made for broad spaces such as forest areas which often overlap in many areas.
• And one of the main acts which affects this aspect is the 1927 Forest act which is still active after almost hundred years which divides the
forests into three main types which are flexible to be reinstated and redefined at a lower level as it suits ones needs at a state or even a city
level as the Act itself states that the details should be defined in the minutia and this along with the 1980 conservation act are the main acts
which talk about the conservation of the forest covert in all areas.
• And when it comes to Urban Forest Cover, importantly almost all the Forest cover under Urban Spaces comes under Reserved forests or
sometimes Protected forests but mostly reserved as most of them do not have any direct economic gain like timber to qualify as protected
forests.
• But all these acts and policies do not state about the forest spaces which are yet to be in these Three categories of forest which mean forest
spaces which are not delineated as any will be in terms just a forest space oin which the act leave the State/City Government to decide
upon.

School of
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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
5 Green Cover In Urban Spaces Of India
So, in order to study the various forest covers in urban spaces of Delhi first one need to look at the situation of the green cover in India. In India the aspects of Forest
and tree cover in a city the % of green cover is the primary and only standard (Forest Survey of India, 2001-2021). But this is in contrast with the rest of the world and
how this is handled.
These are the following cities which are cited as to be the major Urban Centers with Greens In the “ State of Indian Forest Report 2021 (2022) ”.
The World Heath Organization recommend that in order to have a heathy urban Greens at a city Level the international minimum standard for green space is 9m2
per capita.
But the normal standard which is used internationally is the per capita Green Spaces were calculated as:
• The World Health Organization recommends the availability of a minimum of 9 sqm of green space per individual And the minimum required is higher as stated
by United Nations (UN) as 15 m2 per person and by European Union (EU) as 26 m2.
• UN also States that a city needs at least 15% of the total tree cover to be 15%.
State of Indian Forest Report 2021 is the one the few report that I have seen till now which considers the % of Total Forest Cover as even the previous versions of the
documents never had this parameter included in them. In this parameter the toral percentage change in the Green cover is calculated w.r.t to the newly delineated
boundary and the changes in its Green Cover.
But this is sometimes
misrepresented as
Bangalore had
expanded its city
boundaries To include a
few Forest Areas. If
only considering the
Pervious boundary it is
way different.
Delhi has seen a growth in terms of the percentage in Greens when only considering % of
Total Green Cover from 11.32 to 12.62. But when the Per capita Green Space is considered it
the change is very small with only 0.21 Sqm/Inhabitant change. **This is also a bit
misrepresented as LDRA/ Low Density Residential Areas were included in this Greens.
This decrease is directly correlated with the significant increase in
Built up area in terms and Urban Development in all these major
cities. These has been a Increase in the Built-up spaces most of with
are Planned.
% Of Total Green Cover Per Capita Green Spaces (Sq m/Inhabintant)
2011 2021
Change from 2011 to
2021
2011 2021
Change from 2011 to
2021*
Ahmedabad 3.94 2.07 -1.88 3.22 1.14 -2.08
Bengaluru 7.19 6.81 -0.38 11.27 7.01 -4.26
Chennai 4.19 5.28 1.09 2.58 2.03 -0.55
Delhi 11.32 12.61** 1.29 10.38 10.59 0.21
Hyderabad 5.23 12.90 7.67 4.93 8.02 3.09
Kolkata 1.35 0.95 -0.40 0.56 0.34 -0.22
Mumbai 23.34 25.41 2.07 5.53 5.36 -0.17

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BP/748/2017
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6
Legend
Green Cover In Urban Spaces Of India
Forest Covert Classifications
Very Dense Forest (VDF) Tree density of 70% and above
Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) Tree density of 70% to 40%
Open Forest (OF) Tree density of 40% to 10%
Scrub Tree density of less than 10%
Non- Forest Lands not included in the above
Forest Survey of India Also does Handle on what is considered a
forest/green Cover depending on its density. The forest cover is
broadly classified in 4 classes, namely very dense forest,
moderately dense forest, open forest and mangrove. The
classification of the cover into dense and open forests is based on
internationally adopted norms of classification. . Mangroves have
been separately classified because of their characteristic tone and
texture and unique ecological functions.
Master Plan of Delhi Nomenclature
The greens in the Delhi MPD are divided into two parts essentially namely
Recreational and Greenbelt. So, Forest/Green Cover is often shared
between both these parts depending on the Master plan.
2001 Master
Plan
Recreational : Regional Park , District Park, City Park, Playgrounds, Historical Monuments and City Forest
Greenbelt: Nursery and Greenbelt
2021 Master
Plan
Recreational : Regional Park , District Park, City Park, Playgrounds, Historical Monuments
Greenbelt: Nursery and Greenbelt
2041 Draft
Master Plan
Recreational : Regional Park , District Park, City Park, Playgrounds, Archeological Park
Greenbelt: Greenbelt, L.D.R.A Villages
PARAMETERS TO CALCULATE GREEN SPACES IN URBAN AREAS
• Green Spaces per Capita (m2/person)
• % change in total green space area
• Changes w.r.t to the green spaces
decrease/ Increased
Assessing the Accessibility, Safeness and
Functionality of Green Spaces through
Questionnaires and Distance from the
greens.
Tangible
Parameters
Intangible
Parameters
Classification of Forest Area

0
50
100
150
200
1977 1993 2006 2014
DENSE AND OPEN
FORESTS
Dense Forests Open Forests
School of
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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
7 Delhi: Green Cover Analysis
The Analysis of the green spaces in Delhi from various aspects from the Satellite mapping of the City through Land Use Land Cover Data which were release from
Bhuvan, ISRO alongside the data release by the FSI Report till 2021. In order to see how they compare and contrast during the same time. The main parameters in
which the following data will be delineated will be in terms of the Forest density as mentioned before in FSI.
Land Use Land Cover Data Analysis
Land Use/Land Cover data refers to the categorization or classification of human activities and natural elements on the landscape within a specific time frame
based on established scientific and statistical methods of analysis of appropriate source materials. And the following data is satellite images of Delhi across the
years.
Area (Km2) Area (%)
1977 1993 2006 2014 1977 1993 2006 2014
Dense Forests (VDF and MDF) 149.84 164.83 55.49 71.1 10.1 11.11 3.74 4.79
Open Forests 107.11 110.77 99.51 112.52 7.22 7.47 6.71 7.59
Total Main Greens 256.95 275.6 155 183.62 17.32 18.58 10.45 12.38
Scrubs/Degraded Forests 235.74 222.52 269.61 210.58 15.9 15 18.18 14.2
1977 1993 2006 2014
Green Spaces per
Capita (m2/person)
52.82 25.16 7.77 7.33
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1977 1993 2006 2014
BUILT UP SPACES VS
TOTAL GREEN COVER
Total Main Greens Built Up Area
While looking at the various data in terms of the
Forest/Green cover these spaces over the have
decreased.
In terms of the parameter of Green Spaces per capita it is
far below the United Nations (UN) Standard of 15 m2 per
person.
This change at the same sees the increase in the built up
area in spaces of these forest/green cover.

School of
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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
8 Delhi: Green Cover Analysis
FOREST DEPARTMENT AND FOREST SURVEY DATA ANALYSIS
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Area (Km2) %
2011 2021 2011 2021
VDF 6.82 6.74 0.44 0.44
MDF 49.53 56.34 3.21 3.66
OF and Scrub 118.65 131.60 7.70 8.54
Total 11.36% 12.64%
Unlike the LULC Data the Forest Survey data shows an increase in terms of its green cover in
terms of both the parameters of % of Total Green Cover and Per Capita Green Spaces (Sq
m/Inhabintant).
But this data can be said to shown in a better light with the fact that scrubs and open Forest
area names Areas with Tree density of areas which are less sparce with tree density to be
considered as forests.
These kind of Areas include Farmhouse spaces, spaces dense terrain and basic shrubs which
results in the data reflecting an increase in terms of the total green cover and its
parameters.
This data has been critisized by various critics for how the parametres of the report ewere
changed inorder to refect better in terms of Data but on ground.
Very Dense Forest (VDF) Tree density of 70% and above
Moderately Dense Forest
(MDF)
Tree density of 70% to 40%
Non- Forest Lands not included in the above
% of Total Green Cover Per Capita Green Spaces (Sq m/Inhabintant)
2011 2021 Change from 2011 to 2021 2011 2021
Change from 2011 to
2021*
11.32 12.61 1.29 10.38 10.59 0.21

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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Legend
Delhi
Introduction and Zonal Context
Scale
• Planning Zone-J located in the South Delhi, is bounded by Mehrauli Badarpur road in
the North, National Highway No.8 in the West, and National Capital Territory of Delhi
boundary in the South and East.
• The total area of the zone as per MPD-2021 is about 15,178 Ha., out of which around
6,200 Ha. comprises of the ‘Regional Park’/ ‘Ridge’. There are 30 villages/census
towns falling in the zone.
Zonal Context
• South Delhi
• North - Mehrauli
• Badarpur road
• West - National Highway
No.8
• East - Faridabad, NH2 road
• South and East - National
Capital territory
• Total area (MPD-2021)-
15,178 Ha
• 27 - census towns and 3
villages falling in the zone
as per zonal document.
Total area of the Zone as per MPD-
2021 - 15,178 Ha:
• Area under Regional Park / Ridge
- 6,200 Ha
• Green Belt - 410 Ha
• Area under Asola Birds
Sanctuary outside Regional Park
- 300 Ha (D)
• Area for proposed Urban Ext. =
8,268 Ha
9 Case Study: Zone J

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Legend
Delhi
Zone J in Master and Zonal Plans
MPD Draft 2041
•In 1962 Master Plan , there is no mention of
ZONE J as it became an urban extension of
Delhi in the master plan of 2001.
•In 2001 Master Plan, there was made some
land use distribution of the area including
recreational and agricultural area.
•in 2021 Master Plan of Delhi, the whole area
considered under zone J was detailed out only
with Urbanisable area without any further
land use distribution.
Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary covering
32.71 sq. km area on the Southern Delhi
Ridge of Aravalli hill range on Delhi-Haryana
border lies in Southern Delhi as well as
northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram
districts of Haryana state.

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Legend
Delhi
ZONE J _ Reason for Case Study region
• All the major greens are present in Zone J.
• Along with Unauthorized colonies affecting these green spaces.
• 6200 Ha of the 6210 Ha in the southern ridge is present in Zone J.
• And the Greenbelt is 410 Ha along with the 300HA part of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary which is present in the
zone.
• 80% of all the ridge spaces in Delhi are in the Southern Ridge which is almost all Located in Zone J.
Total area of Zone J 15,178 HA
Regional Park 6200HA
Green Belt 410HA
Asola Bird Sanctuary 300HA
Urbanization area 8268HA
1%
11%
8%
80%
Delhi Ridge Spaces
Norther Ridge
Central Ridge
South Central
Ridge
Souther Ridge

EXISTING SETTLEMENTS
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ZONE J : Land Suitability and existing settlements
MOST SUITABLE
LEAST SUITABLE
Source - Ecology aspect
report 2013, SPA Delhi
• The following is a land Suitability analysis as done by the Ecological aspect
report in 2013 which considered the aspects of green cover, water level
among others.
• It can be clearly seen that the regional park area and the Asola park lies is
the least suitable area that is available for construction and kind of
construction or development should be restricted.
• Most of the built lies in the suitable land in the centre of the area.
By mapping the existing settlements in the google
satellite maps it can be see that the existing
settlements in Zone J are already in areas which
were deemed to be few of least suitable for
development.
And these settlements are also encroaching upon
the Regional park area of the city which is a major
green space.
And recently in Feb of 2022 approved at the same
time these spaces were declared to be reserved
forests.
L.D.R.A Study,
2018., Studio
Study(2018-
2022),SPA Delhi

School of
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S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
Accessibility of the greens Survey
From the user survey it can be seen that most of the users are close to a green space and Majority of these citizens see the of the
see themselves the need for them almost no one uses these green spaces daily in this accordance which shows the desire to use
the green spaces while the reposes also show that they seem inaccessible to the citizens.
So with so much Green/Forest cover the accessibility of these spaces is one of the in tangible parameters and for that a sample size of
around 500+ User Survey has been conducted.
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Scale (Not at all) 1 to 5 (Often)

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LEGENDS
Area in Ha Area in %
Village Abadi 828 12%
Group House 125 2%
Plotted House 1401 18%
Unauthorized farmhouses 1580 22%
LDR plots (Farm house plots) 3291 46%
7225 100%
SAINIK
FARMS
426 HA
FARM HOUSES
IN REGIONAL
PARK
1154 HA
UNAUTHORIZE
D
FARMHOUSES
● Farmhouses not sanctioned
● Farmhouses violated the regulations
● Sub divided the plots after sanction
● Farmhouse used for other purpose
● Farmhouse on public lands
Source: LDRA,Report 2020
• Maximum area - Farmhouses with total 68% consisting 22% of
unauthorized colonies
• In unauthorised considered only sainik farms and farmhouses in
regional park (data not available)
• Least area is covered by group house with only 2%
• The Village areas is around 25% and consists high density settlements
Source: Mathur Committee Report, 2006
Zone J settlement Typology
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017

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BP/748/2017
Legend
Delhi
ZONE J: Built Up in Regional Park Area
Scale
2003
2013
2007
2020
TIMELINE
Variation showing the emergence of farm
houses from 2003 to present day
There is a significant rise in the number of
farmhouses settlements
As of 2021 Master plan revision in 2017
these farmhouses were allowed in the
greenbelt spaces and approved.
2041 Master Plan Draft notifies them as
green spaces and not residential which
when active will ondocuments be seen as a
green cover area on par with the Greenbelt.
And these are part of the spaces which have been declared as reserve
Forests in February 2022 which throws the situation into limbo.

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ZONE J: Declaring the Forest/Green Cover as reserved
• During this time where these various land uses have been bought into being in this so
called greens these spaces are further being designated into Reserved Forests under the
1927 Forest Act.
• And the majority of Zone J is about to be declared as reserved forests by the Delhi Ridge
board withy about 4248.8 Ha of the 6210Ha in the Southern Ridge to be declared as
reserved Forests at first…termed Phase 1.
• The spaces where the Areas are to be reserv3ed Forests are not specified.
• And 424.7 Ha of area to be notified in Phase 2
which is a about 73% of the Southern Ridge.
• But as mentioned in the 1927 Act Reserve Forest
are the forests with the most restrictions and are
mainly decided by the Presiding government on any
pertained forest/ waste land and these forests were
decided to the Property of the government.
• As of March of 2022 the Phase 1 of this initiative
has been mostly accomplished which makes these
spaces as reserved forests.
• Though on ground it can be seen that these spaces
are mostly covered with built up 1580Ha of land in
the Southern Ridge being Unauthorized
Farmhouses.
• But the 2041 Master Plan Draft notifies them as
green spaces and not residential which makes it
more complicated.

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ZONE J: Gap in the Greens Cover
• The total Southern Ridge Area is Supposed to be Declared as
Reserved forests and as of As of March of 2022 they have been.
• But just in the Souther Ridge which is to be declared so threre
has been aproximately 1239HAs of Plan which has been
covered from the on ground Built up/Farmhouses.
Area (Ha)
Norther Ridge 87
Central Ridge 864
South Central Ridge 626
Southern Ridge 6200
Total 7777
Total area-
1239ha.
Approx.
20%
80%
Reality Vs on Paper (Southern Ridge)
Built up in green cover Rest of Greens
• This is 20% of all the
southern Ridge and a huge
chunk of that is now LDRA
Spaces along with other Built
up.
• This is a huge gap in what it
actually shows it to be.
• These aspects are going to be even more Muddied with the
declaration of these spaces as Reserved Forest spaces.

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ZONE J: Metro Project
• The construction is on way and the area of the ridge in Zone J is
starting construction as of now.
• This has been approved at the same time these spaces were
declared to be reserved forests which conflicts with this
development.
Type of Ridge Total Area Required (sqm) No. of Trees
Southern Ridge 35240 466
South Central Ridge 38966 455
Other Ridges 55548 151
Total 129754 1072
Delhi Metro’s Aerocity-
Tughlaqabad corridor
under phase-IV is
getting developed this
around a total of 5.2
km of the corridor will
fall under the ridge and
by the estimation of
the Delhi metro 1,072
trees will be affected in
the project part of
which is present in
Zone J.

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BP/748/2017
Legend
Delhi
Scale
• While analyzing and collecting the Data from LULC Maps in terms of the Forest/Green
cover these spaces over the have decreased. From the past year which is expected but
it decreased to about 7.33 Green Spaces per Capita (m2/person) which In terms of the
parameter of Green Spaces per capita it is far below the United Nations (UN) Standard
of 15 m2 per person.
• There has also be an exponential increase in Built up space in development which
have replaced there Urban foresee spaces and green cover
• Unlike the LULC Data the Forest Survey data shows an increase in terms of its green cover in terms of both the parameters of %
of Total Green Cover and Per Capita Green Spaces (Sq m/Inhabitant).
• But this data can be said to shown in a better light with the fact that scrubs and open Forest area names Areas with Tree density
of areas which are less sparce with tree density to be considered as forests.
• These kind of Areas include Farmhouse spaces, spaces dense terrain and basic shrubs which results in the data reflecting an
increase in terms of the total green cover and its parameters.
• This data has been criticized by various critics for how the parameters of the report ewer changed in order to reflect better in
terms of Data but on ground.
0
500
1000
1977 1993 2006 2014
BUILT UP SPACES VS TOTAL
GREEN COVER
Total Main Greens Built Up Area
City Level
• Many of the settlements Of Zone J encroaching upon the Regional park area of the city which is a major green space. Majority of
them are in terms of Farmhouse which are unregulated as of 2021 master plan but the draft plan of 2041 proposes them as green
spaces and not residential.
• These areas have developed over the years and are in many cases unauthorized in nature. And they have completely changed the
forest pattern of the space.
• From the user survey it can be seen that most of the suers are close to a green space and Majority of these citizens see the of the
see show the desire to use the green spaces while the reposes also show that they seem inaccessible to the citizens.
• This is one of the 10 projects which were reported to be approved by the Delhi Ridge board in and near the regional park
• And recently in Feb of 2022 approved at the same time these spaces were declared to be reserved forests which throws this into a
paradox where the forest spaces are sparce and already have a different built up to them which being counted as green cover.
Zone J Level
19 Assessment, Implications and Identification of Issues

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Issue: Acts and Definitional Problems with Defining Green cover and its conservation
Context:
• The main Acts which covers the Forest or any Green cover. And these are the Indian Forest Act of 1927 and Forest Conservation Act 1980.
• In these acts forest/Green Cover is defined as a forest space with no further context.
• And in this the they mainly divided 3 parts after it is decided that the forest cover comes into Protection Namely:
• Reserved Forests: Reserve Forest are the forests with the most restrictions and are mainly decided by the Presiding government on any pertained forest/
waste land and these forests were decided to the Property of the government.
• Protected Forest: In these forest the government is given the power to constitute and control the trees and their economical gains.
• Village Forest
• The conservation act also does state that any reserved forest shall cease to be reserved and that any forest land or any portion thereof may be used for any
non-forest purpose
• This Ignores forest spaces which are yet to in any of these categories. And leave the decision to be with the State Government or Specific Boards.
• This also is very vague in definition as what forest cover means is not defined. Leaving it to the FSI to decide on that.
• This is also left for each of plans and the state boards to decide on there own set of definition of can be constituted as Forest/Green Cover before it
becomes a reserved ,protected/Village Forest.
Proposal:
• Amend or change the exiting acts to accommodate a category for Green cover which will in turn need to include a more strict structure on what forest
cover means.
• Adapt a set of requirements of what it is to be Forest cover at a national level to define them without each State/ board having its own definitions.
Proposals
Issue: Decrease in Green Cover in Urban Spaces in terms of the Green Spaces per Capita. The Indian Standard uses % of greens in an
Area
Context:
• The International Standard for the assessment of these spaces with "Green spaces per capita and be in line with the standards of
WHO and UN which are about 9 m2/person to 15m2/person respectively depending upon the density of an area.
• Mean while In India the FSI uses % of greens in an Area which is very flawed in the sense that the total area in which the greens are
calculate against are changing a lot and it does not consider the People who are effected by the greens at all.
Proposal:
• Adapt the International Standard for the assessment of these spaces with "Green spaces per capita and be in line with the standards
of WHO and UN which are about 9 m2/person to 15m2/person depending upon the density of an area.
20 Proposals and Suggestions

School of
Planning and
Architecture
Delhi
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
Issue: Exponential increase in Built up space in development which have replaced there Urban foresee spaces and green cover
Context:
• Across the Country it can be clearly seen that the green cover is being replaced by various kinds of built over the years.
• It is apparent in the city of Bangalore and Delhi in which over the years this has been the case. This is exponentials and almost always fully consumes the
greens of a space.
Proposal/Suggestions:
• Encourage more densely placed development in cities which restricting the usage of the green cover in terms of what aspects are allowed to replace it.
• Reconsider the Destiny of trees which are to considered in order to declare a forest space with only the Dense and Moderately Dense forests being
Considered mainly while also accommodating the scrubs and Open forests which not counting them as fully forests.
Proposals
Issue: FSI and its inconsistent use of Forest cover and its definition.
Context:
• FSI uses these main terminologies for Forest cover and in may a contest FSI have
recently started using Open Forest and Scrub as Forest places which grandly
misrepresents the actual forest covered present
Proposal:
• Not Consider Spaces to forest cover such as Scrubs or maybe even reconsider
Open forests in this.
• This will also need a reform the acts which govern it.
Very Dense Forest (VDF)
Tree density of 70% and
above
Moderately Dense Forest
(MDF)
Tree density of 70% to 40%
Non- Forest
Lands not included in the
above

School of
Planning and
Architecture
Delhi
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
Issue: Reality of Green Cover contradicting what existing on ground in Delhi
Context:
• According to LULC Data the Green Spaces per Capita (m2/person) has been decreasing over the years. While analyzing and collecting the Data from LULC
Maps in terms of the Forest/Green cover these spaces over the have decreased. From the past year which is expected but it decreased to about 7.33 Green
Spaces per Capita (m2/person) which In terms of the parameter of Green Spaces per capita it is far below the United Nations (UN) Standard of 15 m2 per
person.
• But the FSI data shows a different picture with the fact that scrubs and open Forest area names Areas with Tree density of areas which are less sparce with
tree density to be considered as forests.
• These kind of Areas include Farmhouse spaces, spaces dense terrain and basic shrubs which results in the data reflecting an increase in terms of the total
green cover and its parameters. This brings us to Zone J. 20% of all the southern Ridge and a huge chunk of that is now LDRA Spaces along with other Built
up. This is a huge gap in what it actually shows it to be as this built is is considered Greens.
Proposal/Suggestions:
• Encourage more densely placed development in cities which restricting the usage of the green cover in terms of what aspects are allowed to replace it.
• Reconsider the Destiny of trees which are to considered in order to declare a forest space with only the Dense and Moderately Dense forests being
Considered mainly while also accommodating the scrubs and Open forests which not counting them as fully forests.
Proposals
1977 1993 2006 2014
Green Spaces per Capita (m2/person) 52.82 25.16 7.77 7.33
% of Total Green Cover Per Capita Green Spaces (Sq m/Inhabintant)
2011 2021 Change from 2011 to 2021 2011 2021 Change from 2011 to 2021*
11.32 12.61 1.29 10.38 10.59 0.21
Issue: User Survey shows inaccessibleness of Green Cover In Delhi and Zone J
Context:
• From the user survey it can be seen that most of the suers are close to a green space and Majority of these citizens see the of the see
show the desire to use the green spaces while the reposes also show that they seem inaccessible to the citizens.
Proposal:
• Integrate the green more in line with the surrounding population while preserving them. This can be through the development of new
plans in terms of Green cover (Special plans are in preparation at the DDA for the Regional Park and the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary) with
a few recreational spots instead built up while preserving most of the green cover.

School of
Planning and
Architecture
Delhi
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
Delhi
Issue: LDRA Spaces being considered Greens cover or Green Cover Adjacent in Delhi over the Master Plans and Some of these spaces being declared as
reserved forests.
Context:
• LDRA/ Lower density Residential Areas have been slowly over a period of time have been considered Green spaces and while being residential spaces with
their own use. These are mostly farmhouse.
• This has many issues while misrepresenting the data of showing the southern ridge as fully a green recreational while it is laid out from built up.
• This also encourages misdemeanors in with these aspects.
Proposal:
• Recovered the situation and categorize the farmhouses in accordance to their use unlike the preset situation
• Relocate or remove the many Has of Encroached spaces in Zone J ion order to maintain the regional park area while also aligning with the changes to the
greens to become Recovered forest spaces.
• Remove LDRA Spaces as Green cover.
• Reconsider and remove these spaces as Reserved forest spaces as it was declared before.
Proposals
Total area- 1239ha.
Approx.
• While this space is being declared as reserved forest now even though there is a built
up of LDRA Space in these villages.
• As of 2021 Master plan revision in 2017 these farmhouses were allowed in the
greenbelt spaces and approved.
• 2041 Master Plan Draft notifies them as green spaces and not residential which when
active will on documents be seen as a green cover area on par with the Greenbelt.
• And many LDRA Spaces were seen to be present in unauthorized areas or in the
Regional Park Area.
• These are part of the built up spaces which have seen in the LULC Maps at a city level
but declared as reserved forest.
• the majority of Zone J is about to be declared as reserved forests by the Delhi Ridge
board withy about 4248.8 Ha of the 6210Ha in the Southern Ridge to be declared as
reserved Forests at first…termed Phase 1.
• The spaces where the Areas are to be reserved Forests are not specified while only
mentioning the Villages from the Southern Ridge Space.
• For future Development consider the green spaces as un negotiable in terms of development which completely replaces it and
degrades the spaces replacing it.

Key Map
School of
Planning and
Architecture
Delhi
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
References and Bibliography
Legend
Delhi
PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS
• Ashish Kothari, Saloni Suri and Neena Singh (1995); Conservation in India: A New Direction;
Economic and Political Weekly, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4403374
• Robin Naidoo and Wiktor L. Adamowicz (2005); Economic benefits of biodiversity exceed costs of conservation at an African
rainforest reserve; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0508036102
• Madan Mohan (2000); Climate Change: Evaluation Of Ecological Restoration Of Delhi Ridge Using Remote Sensing And GIS
Technologies; International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B7, 886 – 894
• Aditya Sarkar, Shakir Ali, Suman Kumar, Shashank Shekhar, and SVN Rao (2016); Groundwater Environment in Delhi, India
Groundwater Environment in Asian Cities,77-108; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803166-7.00005-2
• World Health Organization (2016) Urban green spaces and health: A review of evidence;
https://www.euro.who.int/data/assets/pdf_file/0005/321971/Urban-green-spaces-and-health-review-evidence.pdf
• Archana Meena, Ankita Bidalia, M. Hanief, J. Dinakaran & K. S. Rao (2019);Assessment of above- and belowground carbon pools in
a semi-arid forest ecosystem of Delhi, India; Ecological Processes, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13717-019-0163-y
• Brijesh K. Bansal, Kapil Mohan, Mithila Verma & Anup K. Sutar (2011); A holistic seismotectonic model of Delhi region,
Scientific Reports https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93291-9.pdf
• Sinha, G.N. (Ed.) (2014). An Introduction to the Delhi Ridge. Department of Forests & Wildlife, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, New Delhi
• Imam, A. U., & Banerjee, U. K. (2016). Urbanization and greening of Indian cities: Problems, practices, and policies. Ambio, 45(4),
442–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0763-4
• Maas J, Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, de Vries S, Spreeuwenberg P. Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?.
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006;60(7):587-592. doi:10.1136/jech.2005.043125
• Pradeep Chaudhry, Kenjum Bagra and Bilas Singh (2011) ;Urban Greenery Status of Some Indian Cities: A Short Communication
• Wang, S. W., Gebru, B. M., Lamchin, M., Kayastha, R. B., & Lee, W. K. (2020). Land use and land cover change detection and
prediction in the kathmandu district of nepal using remote sensing and GIS. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(9).
https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093925
• Tuffour-Mills, D., Antwi-Agyei, P., & Addo-Fordjour, P. (2020). Trends and drivers of land cover changes in a tropical urban forest in
Ghana. Trees, Forests and People, 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100040
• Oloo, F., Murithi, G., & Jepkosgei, C. (2020). Quantifying Tree Cover Loss in Urban Forests within Nairobi City Metropolitan Area
from Earth Observation Data. Environmental Sciences Proceedings, 3(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/iecf2020-07
• Shahfahad, Kumari, B., Tayyab, M. et al. Assessment of public open spaces (POS) and landscape quality based on per capita POS
index in Delhi, India. SN Appl. Sci. 1, 368 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-0372-0
24

Key Map
School of
Planning and
Architecture
Delhi
S K Srinivasa Naidu
BP/748/2017
References and Bibliography
Legend
Delhi
ARTICLES AND WEB SOURCES
• Press Trust of India (May 2019); No encroachment on forest land in Southern Ridge: Delhi govt to NGT; The Hindustan Times;
https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/no-encroachment-on-forest-land-in-southern-ridge-delhi-govt-to-ngt/story-
txXXBiNa25aCJQMPjFSEqL.html
• HT Correspondent (December 2019); Air pollution: HC orders removal of encroachments in Delhi ridge, dart shots from chopper to
plant seeds; The Hindustan Times; https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/air-pollution-hc-orders-removal-of-encroachments-in-
delhi-ridge-dart-shots-from-chopper-to-plant-seeds/story-Vz524ynD0aKbqDpS9pF6JN.html
• Soumya Pillai (July 2021); Delhi Metro’s Tughlakabad-Aerocity line gets Ridge board approval; The Hindustan Times
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/delhi-ridge-board-gives-go-ahead-to-metro-s-tughlakabad-aerocity-corridor-
101626285302718.html
• Financial Express (March 2019); Delhi Central Ridge to be revived with native tree species to improve air quality and groundwater;
Financial Express; https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/delhi-central-ridge-to-be-revived-with-native-tree-species-
to-improve-air-quality-and-groundwater/2206984/
• The Times of India (October 2015);Stop forest encroachment, says Delhi high court; The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/stop-forest-encroachment-says-high-court/articleshow/49474089.cms
• Badri Chatterjee (June 2017); 74 cases of mangrove destruction on Mumbai’s private land in 4 months; The Hindustan Times;
https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/74-cases-of-mangrove-destruction-on-mumbai-s-private-land-in-4-
months/story-YuXeRx5cTczXM0PPkkz3jN.html
• Manoj Nair (August 2019); Mumbai has a long way to go in protecting mangrove forests; The Hindustan Times;
https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-has-a-long-way-to-go-in-protecting-mangrove-forests/story-
9evRjMAF8uVM6DjDXtbSoL.html
• Times now News (July 2021); World Mangrove Day: 1,450 hectares of mangroves to be converted into reserved forest in MMR;
https://www.timesnownews.com/mumbai/article/world-mangrove-day-1450-hectares-of-mangroves-to-be-converted-into-
reserved-forest-in-mmr/790522
• Badri Chatterjee (June 2019); 32K mangroves to be razed for bullet train, NHSRCL confirms; The Hindustan Times
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/32k-mangroves-to-be-razed-for-bullet-train-nhsrcl-confirms/story-
FLUWtnYITKrcghylzIXyuL.html
• Himanshu Kaushik (January 2022); Times of India; Green cover: Ahmedabad biggest loser among mega cities;
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/green-cover-abad-biggest-loser-among-mega-
cities/articleshow/88886503.cms

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