Ahmedabad: Wagh Bakri Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, has initiated development of its second Miyawaki forest on an AUDA plot in Godhavi, Manipur. The project will plant more than 5,000 trees, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to environmental sustainability and urban afforestation.
Undertaken in collaboration with Catch Foundation, the plantation activity commenced on Monday. The upcoming green space will be named Shri Narandas Desai Upvan, honouring Wagh Bakri Group’s founder, Shri Narandas Desai.
Senior leaders of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group—including Vice Chairman & Managing Director Rasesh Desai, Executive Director Paras Desai, Directors Priyam Parikh and Vidisha Desai, and CEO Sanjay Singal—were present at the ceremony. The dignitaries participated in the ceremonial planting of saplings, formally marking the beginning of the project.
The initiative aims to develop a dense, fast-growing forest using the globally recognised Miyawaki method, known for restoring ecological balance in urban environments. Once mature, the forest is expected to boost biodiversity, improve air quality, sequester carbon, reduce local temperatures, and support groundwater recharge, ultimately becoming a self-sustaining ecosystem for the community.
Commenting on the initiative, Executive Director Paras Desai said, “The creation of this Miyawaki forest is a tribute to Shri Narandas Desai’s enduring legacy. It reflects our commitment to strengthening urban biodiversity and supporting future generations with cleaner, greener environments.”
This project forms part of the Wagh Bakri Foundation’s CSR initiatives for 2025–26, building upon its continued partnership with Catch Foundation, which previously developed Shri Pankajbhai Upvan in Gandhinagar in 2023.