In Mumbai and beyond, hundreds of small-scale green pockets are sprouting up thanks to Subhajit Mukherjee’s mission to cultivate forests in limited urban spaces. His innovative approach is helping cool cities and boost biodiversity where space is scarce.
- Over 3 lakh trees planted in Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai
- Pocket forests thrive in as little as 100 square feet
- "No green without blue" philosophy focuses on water for tree survival
What happened
Subhajit Mukherjee, founder of Mission Green Mumbai and the Subhajit Mukherjee Foundation, has created more than 40 urban pocket forests in major Indian cities. These tiny forests are planted in spaces as small as 100 square feet, hosting 28 to 37 native saplings arranged across multiple ecological layers. The initiative has led to the planting of over 3 lakh trees through citizen participation, institutional partnerships, and corporate social responsibility programs.
Faced with the challenge of limited space in Mumbai and other cities, where green cover falls well below government recommendations, Mukherjee’s work focuses on dense planting combined with careful soil and water management. His approach has transformed otherwise dry and barren urban areas into thriving green oases alive with birds and butterflies.
Why it feels good
Mukherjee’s philosophy of 'no green without blue' highlights the crucial link between water management and tree survival. Urban environments often fail to provide the water infrastructure needed to sustain new greenery, which leads to saplings dying despite planting efforts. By addressing this, the pocket forests flourish, improving air quality, reducing heat, and enhancing urban biodiversity.
The initiative also offers a hopeful solution for rapidly warming cities like Mumbai, where temperatures often soar above 44°C. By increasing green cover from a mere 13% closer to the recommended 33%, these miniature forests help create cooler, healthier, and more livable urban spaces. The success of these pocket forests invigorates local communities and encourages broader urban environmental action.
What to enjoy or watch next
The pocket forest model pioneered by Mukherjee is freely available for anyone to adopt, with a full toolkit shared through platforms like WhatsApp. Schools, hospitals, residential societies, and citizen groups across India are replicating the approach, encouraging widespread urban reforestation at a grassroots level.
Keep an eye on new pocket forests sprouting regularly in metropolitan areas as this movement spreads. Innovations in community participation and water-efficient planting techniques continue to evolve, promising an even greener future for India’s cities as they balance growth with nature conservation.