Mumbai is undertaking its first comprehensive tree census in nearly eight years, aimed at documenting the city's tree population and assessing its urban greenery. The last census, conducted in 2018, recorded approximately 33.7 lakh trees, with expectations for an increase due to the rise in urban plantations and Miyawaki forests. The current census, which began in February and is expected to last for two years, involves 64 teams of surveyors who are tasked with documenting about 120 trees daily across various public and private spaces, including restricted areas like defence land and airports.

Surveyors use a GIS-enabled app to record essential data, including tree measurements, species name, and health condition. The census has already revealed interesting ecological patterns, such as unique tree species concentrations in Parsi colonies, attributed to the community's historical trade practices. Ecologist Anand Pendharkar stresses the importance of continuous monitoring and public engagement in tree documentation, advocating for the involvement of educational institutions and citizen groups to foster a deeper connection with urban ecology. The data collected will help the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) map tree diversity and understand the changing urban landscape of Mumbai.