WRI India plays a leading role in supporting Indian cities to adopt nature-based solutions (NbS) through the Cities4Forests initiative. Cities4Forests helps cities around the world conserve, restore and sustainably manage urban forests to improve resilience, enhance air and water quality, and build healthier, more livable cities. In India, WRI India works directly with local governments to integrate urban forestry and nature-based solutions into city planning, infrastructure and climate strategies.

Our support spans technical assistance, on-ground implementation, stakeholder engagement and training. From participatory tree-planting campaigns in Kochi to localized vulnerability assessments in Jaipur and green infrastructure planning in Mumbai, the initiative is grounded in both community ownership and urban governance. Here are some key projects –

 

Kawaki (Make a Grove) Initiative in Kochi 
India’s engagement with Cities4Forests began in 2019, when Kochi became the country’s first member city. With WRI India’s technical support, the city launched Kawaki, a community-led greening movement that mobilized students and residents to restore tree cover in heat-prone and underserved neighborhoods. The initiative introduced monsoon-aligned planting calendars, participatory mapping, and localized nursery development. By securing a line item in the municipal budget, Kochi ensured Kawaki’s continuity and demonstrated a scalable model of nature-based urban action.


Shaping a Climate Resilient Mumbai 
Hyderabad soon followed as the second city to join the alliance. Then, in 2022, Mumbai became the third Indian city to officially join Cities4Forests. Mumbai’s entry signaled a growing momentum for urban greening in Indian metros. The city is working to incorporate green infrastructure into its broader climate action efforts - with WRI India offering technical guidance, policy integration support and implementation strategies that align with local governance priorities.

Mumbai's first-ever greening handbook offers guidance on planting across all scales - from balcony garden boxes to large plots.

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Building Jaipur’s Climate Resilience through NbS  

Jaipur, while not an official member city, has emerged as a major implementation partner. Through a collaboration between WRI India, The Living Greens Organics, and the Caterpillar Foundation, nine pilot nature-based solutions were launched in Jaipur’s low-income and semi-arid neighborhoods. These efforts focused on stormwater management, heat mitigation, and ecological restoration, using sponge landscapes and community stewardship. The pilots also generated evidence to inform NbS implementation in similar city contexts across India.

 

TheCityFix Labs India 
These on-ground efforts also complement WRI India’s broader work through initiatives like TheCityFix Labs India, which accelerates nature-based solutions through city-specific innovation labs and supports cities in scaling sustainable urban interventions. 

As cities across India confront intensifying climate risks, Cities4Forests - through WRI India’s support - offers a path to reimagine urban growth. By embedding natural ecosystems into the fabric of city development, Indian cities are proving that trees, forests and green infrastructure can be core strategies for resilience, equity and sustainability. 

 

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