A live debate: Could Indian cities boost resilience by embracing native trees?

This research paper by Pratibha Caleb and Rithika Fernandes of ICLEI South Asia examines the debate between using native versus introduced tree species to enhance urban resilience in Indian cities facing increasing climate-related disasters.

• Large exotic tree species commonly used in Indian cities, including the Gulmohar (Delonix regia), copperpod (Peltophorum pterocarpum), and rain tree (Albizia saman), are prone to falling during strong winds and cyclones due to their shallow root systems, causing damage to infrastructure and loss of life.
• There is an ongoing debate regarding the functional benefits of tree species: native species are generally seen as better equipped for disasters and more supportive of native fauna and ecosystem services, while some literature suggests non-native species may be hardier in urbanized spaces and better adapted to climate change.
• Current urban planning in India often prioritizes aesthetics and ease of maintenance over functionality, leading to the prevalence of fast-growing, non-native ornamental species like the African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata) and Ashoka tree (Polyalthia longifolia).
• The management of urban green spaces in India is fragmented and lacks a clearly defined local authority, with responsibilities split across various departments (such as Garden, Pollution Control, or Town and Country Planning) and agencies like the National Highway Authority of India and state electricity boards.
• The Urban Greening Guidelines 2014, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to address indiscriminate concretisation, are criticized for lacking scientific rigour and failing to provide guidance on which authorities should assess and manage tree planting.

APA

Caleb, P., & Fernandes, R. (n.d.). A live debate: Could Indian cities boost resilience by embracing native trees? Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/story/feature-a-live-debate-could-indian-cities-boost-resilience-by-embracing-native-trees

Chicago

Caleb, Pratibha, and Rithika Fernandes. A live debate: Could Indian cities boost resilience by embracing native trees? Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/story/feature-a-live-debate-could-indian-cities-boost-resilience-by-embracing-native-trees.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Caleb |first1=Pratibha |last2=Fernandes |first2=Rithika |title=A live debate: Could Indian cities boost resilience by embracing native trees? |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/story/feature-a-live-debate-could-indian-cities-boost-resilience-by-embracing-native-trees |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{calebndlive, author = {Caleb, Pratibha and Fernandes, Rithika}, title = {{A live debate: Could Indian cities boost resilience by embracing native trees?}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/story/feature-a-live-debate-could-indian-cities-boost-resilience-by-embracing-native-trees}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }