A ‘Letter to Nature’ in Delhi

Nature breathes life into our cities. As part of a new campaign to highlight the importance of urban nature to our everyday lives, C40 has invited mayors, artists, cultural influencers and other thought leaders from cities around the world to write a ‘Letter to Nature’.

Read what Reena Gupta, Advisor, Department of Environment, Government of NCT of Delhi has to say about nature in their city.

“With about 324 sq km of forest and green cover, Delhi is one of the greenest capitals globally. From its ridge areas and Yamuna River floodplain to the biodiversity parks, city forests, gardens and neighbourhood parks, urban greens and water bodies have historically been at the core of Delhi’s development.

These natural assets not only act as lung spaces providing ecosystem services to the city, they keep us cool in summer, filter pollution from our air, allow rainwater to infiltrate and recharge our groundwater, and support a wealth of animal, bird, and insect life. They are also vibrant public spaces and recreational areas enabling social interactions and fostering overall well-being of the residents. A morning walk in the Hauz Khas Deer Park, weekend picnic in Sundar Nursery or meeting friends in Lodhi Garden have been a regular part of life for so many of us.

However, increasing air pollution in the last few years and, more recently, the pandemic has substantially affected the residents’ access to nature in the city. At the same time, it has also been a grim reminder of the fact that we take nature for granted. The Government of Delhi NCT has signed C40’s Urban Nature Declaration and is committed to protect and rejuvenate our natural assets and make Delhi a greener, more resilient, and thriving city. I encourage all citizens to play their part in this collective effort. Every action counts!”