Sensitive Greening of Urban Areas with Community Participation

Nizhal’s Vision -To be an effective catalyst in greening urban areas, with a special focus on regenerating biodiversity.

Nizhal’s Mission - To promote tree culture in urban areas, create awareness of the role of trees, planting the right kind of trees and caring for trees, through collaborative efforts.

Nizhal’s main goals :

(a) to preserve biodiversity
(b) to strengthen the bond between people and nature
(c) to promote awareness of trees and sensitivity to the trees around us.

Nizhal(meaning ‘‘Shade’’ in Tamil) is a not for profit service organization registered as a Trust with both Registrar of Cooperative Societies and the IT department under Sec 12 A. Founded in 2005 to promote concern for trees in urban areas, Nizhal works to build awareness among citizens, corporations and the government, about the benefits of trees and the need to plant, protect and care for trees.

Nizhal also acts as a resource bank and facilitator for those interested in participating in green projects.

We rely solely on the support of our enthusiastic volunteers and a dedicated advisory board.

Key Projects :

Indigenous Tree Park at Kotturpuram :

Along with the State Public Works Department and the Chennai Corporation, Nizhal is facilitating the transformation of a 5-acre barren land on the banks of River Adayar in Chennai into an Indigenous Tree Park. Over 200 Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF) / naturalised and indigenous tree species have been planted along the river bank and nurtured.

Every week Nizhal brings school children, employees of corporates, members of other volunteer groups to offer Shramdhaan (volunteering) at the park, and work hands on in planting and caring for trees.

Green Prisons Programs - across Tamil Nadu :

The State Prison Campus at Puzhal, Chennai, has being greened with a diversity of appropriate species to create a pleasant environment. While volunteers help prisoners raise fruits and vegetables for their own consumption, experts involve them in organic methods of horticulture/ agriculture training that will impart adequate livelihood skills after their release.


The success of this initiative at Puzhal Prison has resulted in the authorities joining hands with Nizhal towards Green Prisons across Tamil Nadu - at Cuddalore, Trichy, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Pudukottai, Palayamkottai and Vellore!

Occupational Therapy for Inmates of IMH – Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk :

To facilitate greening as occupational therapy for the mentally ill, Nizhal has planted special trees and shrubs at the premises of Institute of Mental Health, Ayanavaram. Volunteers visit the every week to motivate and work with the inmates. A vegetable garden nurtured with the help of patients, yields vegetables such as Ladies Finger, Spinach, and Tomatoes.

Tree Walks across Chennai :

Conducted in local neighbourhoods and protected areas across the city, tree walks aim to acquaint citizens with the trees around them, sensitize citizens on the role played by trees in the environment, the challenges they face and how they can be protected. Walks also serve as forums where tree lovers get to network with each other.

Free The Tree Campaigns :

During “Free the Tree” Campaigns, Nizhal volunteers of a locality remove the advertisement boards and nails from trees alongside, clear the pavements around the tree to provide space for the tree to grow and remove tree guards from trees that have outgrown them. Volunteers connect with the auto drivers, traffic cops, road side shop vendors and explain to them the need to protect the trees from such abuse.

Go Green Neighbourhood Initiative :

To facilitate positive change within an entire neighbourhood through outreach activities among school children, Nizhal embarked on a model landmark initiative in Gandhi Nagar, Chennai, in association with Siemens. The year-long project comprised sustained inputs in different aspects of sensitive greening with all educational institutions in Gandhi Nagar neighbourhood along with the local community – through interesting outdoor sessions including walks, surveys, and community campaigns.