New City Biodiversity Index for Hyderabad soon
GHMC to conduct extensive Hyderabad: Seven years after it became the first city in the country to have a City Biodiversity Index (CBI), the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is again gearing up to prepare a fresh and revised CBI. The index is meant for self- The index is meant for self- assessment on matters per- taining to biodiversity in cit- ies. In 2012, Hyderabad had scored 36 of a possible 92 points in the CBI, which is also known as the Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity. Though Hyderabad released its CBI during the Con ference of Parties to the Con vention on Biodiversity (CBD) in 2012, it was not re- assessed all these years. How poration has decided to have its latest CBI and is in the pro- cess of roping in an agency for taking up the exercise. What began as Hyderabad's initiative was followed by other cities like Nagpur, Kochi, Delhi, Kolkata, which are having their respective CBI done. tion It is important for cities to have years CBI as it provides vital information on the flora and fauna of a par- be ticular city, said a senior official extensive from GHMC. ignore There is no authentic current in- versaformation and statistics on the that green cover in the city and once the put in place, the revised CBI How would give a fresh documentation. he said. As part of CBI, experts conduct technology extensive study on the flora and ages fauna in the city. The study covers ciesall aspects related to plants, birds, tured animals etc. There are 12 differ- ent parameters like natural green- ery in the city, roadside plantacrosschecked tions, orchards and number of spe- "cies. very Why is CBI important and CBI presents all the details of the addedflora and fauna and, accordingly, officials can plan the future course to increase green cover in the city. Based on the CBI findings, officials can plan on different plantations, including avenue or native species etc. "In the present context, CBI gives the information for planta"In the present context, CBI gives the information for plantation planning for the next five years and how to increase the green cover and the measures to be initiated. We cannot continue extensive avenue plantation and ignore native species or vice versa," said the official adding that more importantly, it is key to the survival of birds and animals. How is CBI prepared It is done for two years. Using the geographical information system technology high-resolution images of each and every plant, species, type of sapling etc are captured during the first year. Later, in the second year, the images, facts and numbers are crosschecked at the ground level. "It is a long drawn process but very important for city's growth and development,” the official added.
