Delhi is one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, but as concrete replaces open land, another battle is unfolding over the future of its urban forests. On some days, temperatures in India, and especially Delhi, are dangerously high. Local patches of green provide much-needed relief. But what happens when development plans collide with the need for natural cooling spaces?
We explore the fight to protect Delhi's forests, from a 120-hectare woodland that emerged naturally on once-barren land to debates over invasive species, conservation and reforestation. Residents, activists and ecologists are asking difficult questions: which trees should be protected, and who gets to decide the future of urban green spaces? And it's urgent: as Delhi continues to grow, thousands of mature trees have already been lost.