Consequent to the felling of 40 giant trees for road widening in the city recently and the public outrage over it, the city-based NGO Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has convened a meeting to evolve strategies for tree conservation.

The meeting is scheduled for Sunday from 4 p.m., and it will be held at the MGP office at 6/1, Vivekananda Road, Yadavgiri.

Botanist S. Natesh, who is the author of the book, Iconic Trees of India, published in 2024, will take part in the meeting and come out with suggestions on how best the citizens can come together on a common platform to prevent tree-felling.

The spotlight on tree conservation comes in the wake of what environmentalists are calling the “murder” of over 40 trees that were over 40 years old, along the Hyder Ali Road, in April.

The incident sparked outrage and resulted in widespread protests in the city, and activists also responded with a slew of actions, including a candlelight vigil, replanting drives, online petitions, and formal complaints to the Chief Minister, Lokayukta, National Green Tribunal, and the Deputy Commissioner.

People’s Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), Mysuru chapter, also wrote to the Minister for Forests, Ecology, and Environment, Eshwar Khandre, to amend the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, in a bid to strengthen tree protection. A crowd-funded exercise also saw the transplantation of a giant tree which had collapsed near the Kukkarahalli lake embankment, underlining increasing public involvement on issues related to environment.

Though the Minister, on his part, ordered an inquiry into the incident and sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner, there are concerns that nearly 300 more trees have been marked for felling to pave the way for linear projects such as drawing high tension cables or broadening the existing roads.

The MGP said ahead of the event that tree-felling should be the last resort, only after exploring all alternatives for preservation. The group hopes that Sunday’s meeting will serve as a platform to build a collective voice against unnecessary deforestation in Mysuru.

Dr. Natesh, a retired senior advisor from the Department of Biotechnology of the government of India, will lead the session. It may be noted that a plant species, Aponogeton nateshii, has been named after him.

For additional information on the meeting, contact 0821-2515150.