Chennai Man Builds 40 Urban Forests in India's Hottest Cities
Krishnakumar S has transformed barren city plots into 40 thriving urban forests across India, planting 65,000 native trees that cool neighborhoods and bring wildlife back. His forests grow in just 2-3 years using a special Japanese method that works 10 times faster than traditional planting.
When Chennai's streets started baking and its birds disappeared, Krishnakumar S decided to fight back with forests.
Not just a few trees here and there. Dense, wild forests right in the heart of India's hottest cities.
Krishnakumar saw his city choking on dust and heat. Streets offered no shade, and greenery vanished under concrete. He and his friends founded Thuvakkam, which means "the beginning" in Tamil, and got to work transforming forgotten urban spaces.
They used the Miyawaki method, a technique developed in Japan that plants native saplings close together. The trees compete for sunlight and grow 10 times faster than normal, creating self-sustaining forests in just 2 to 3 years instead of decades.
The work wasn't easy. Land approvals dragged on, water was scarce, and city regulations created endless hurdles. Then in 2016, Cyclone Vardah wiped out months of their efforts in a single day.
Most people would have given up. Krishnakumar and his team rebuilt everything, learning from each setback and growing stronger.
They found dying lakes, scorching public lands, and empty community spaces across Chennai and Hyderabad. Each barren plot became a project, and slowly, green havens emerged from the concrete.
The Ripple Effect
Today, 40 urban forests stand where dust once swirled. Those 65,000 trees now cool entire neighborhoods, recharge underground water supplies, and scrub pollution from the air.
The forests became community gathering places. Volunteers, students, and residents joined planting days, getting their hands dirty together. Over 65 native species now thrive where nothing grew before.
Birds returned to nest. Bees buzzed between flowers. Children found shaded playgrounds, and elders discovered peaceful walking paths. Life literally came back to the city.
The movement keeps growing beyond two cities. Krishnakumar's blueprint shows how dense urban forests can fight climate change, protect disappearing species, and reconnect city dwellers to the natural world around them.
India's concrete jungles are slowly becoming real ones, one forest at a time.
Based on reporting by The Better India
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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