In a bold move to combat rising temperatures and dwindling greenery, Mangaluru has launched the Amara initiative—a citizen-driven urban greening campaign aimed at significantly increasing the city’s green cover. Unveiled on April 21, the project comes in response to findings from the Tree Count Report-Mangaluru 2023 by Nitte (Deemed to be) University, which revealed that only 6.24% of Mangaluru’s green cover exists on public land, while 35.66% is on private property. With the goal of achieving 30% green cover by 2040, the initiative plans to plant 30,000 saplings across 60 wards during the monsoon season. Additionally, between 50,000 and 100,000 mangrove saplings will be planted to restore and protect the city’s coastal zones. Residents and institutions can adopt saplings via the Mangaluru Smart City app, choosing individual or ward-wise adoptions. Each sapling will be geotagged and tracked to ensure survival and long-term care. Currently, the app lists 19,872 trees in public spaces, with 21 trees already adopted. Timeline of the Amara Project: Ward-wise adoption ends: April 30 Planting sites finalized: May 15 Plantation drive begins: June 5 (World Environment Day) Public audit report release: August 15 The Tree Count Report also highlighted a rise in average surface temperature from 32.2°C in 2014 to 32.95°C in 2022, mainly due to urban expansion and loss of tree cover. To tackle these environmental challenges, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has embedded the Amara initiative into its digital governance by integrating it with the Smart City app. Through real-time monitoring and transparent public access, the project emphasizes accountability and community participation. By engaging citizens, promoting institutional adoption, and using digital tools for monitoring, Mangaluru’s Amara project is not just planting trees—it's sowing the seeds for a sustainable urban future.