Cities4Forests is a movement conceptualised to catalyse political, social, and economic support among city governments and urban citizens to integrate the inner, nearby, and faraway forests into city development plans and programs. Cities4Forest helps cities from around the world connect with and invest in forests. The project is initiated by a consortium of international agencies like World Resource Institute (WRI), Pilot Projects and REVOLVE with the involvement of mayors’ offices and supported by other sub-national agencies from around the world. The project will be implemented 45 cities from across the world for the project which aims at incorporating forests into the urban strategy to address climate change issues. Kochi is the only city selected from India on the list.

The Initiative was launched on 7th August 2019, in Kochi. The launch witnessed stakeholders from various walks of life – City Administration, engineers, city planners, conservationist, civil society, educational and research institutions come together in a bid to use  the platform of Cities4Forests to leverage green infrastructure of the city to improve resilience.  Participants shared an aspiration to help reduce deforestation, restore forests (including more trees in cities), and manage forests more sustainably. The goal of the project is to amplify current best practices and extend the deliberate city-forest relationship to the global scale on which cities and forests interact. On behalf of Kochi Municipal Corporation, the Centre for Heritage Environment and Development (c-hed) supported the organization of the event.

 

 

 

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Major Projects

  • TOSCA Installation and Demonstration

    The TOSCA installation and demonstration was held at Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED) as part of TOSCA India – the Toolkit for Open and Sustainable City Planning & Analysis project implemented with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The project is envisioned to address the critical urban challenges and

  • Challenge Lab Kochi

    Challenge Lab Kochi – A technical workshop was organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH that aimed to develop a granular understanding of city’s needs and priorities, challenges and enablers for setting up the Urban Observatory as well as programming and management of public open spaces. The event was formally inaugurated by the

  • Launch of 100 E-Autos

    The launch programme of 100 E-Autos as part of Smart SUT project under GIZ and Urban Pathways project under UN Habitat.

  • EcoLogistics project – Inauguration and handing over of Zero- Emission Electric Freight Autos

    Kochi showcases a way forward to address the complex problems of decarbonising urban logistics, air pollution, climate change, and gender inequality. Hon’ble Justice Shri Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court and Hon’ble Mayor Adv.M Anilkumar inaugurated a demonstration project on September 15, 2022, to promote zero-emission light goods vehicles for last-mile deliveries under EcoLogistics

  • Training programme on the vacant land survey and retrieving land survey details from GIS platform

    Training programme on the vacant land survey and retrieving land survey details from GIS platform held as part of the ‘Rapid Response Policy Engagement’ project.  

  • Inauguration and handing over of Zero- Emission Electric Freight Autos

      Kochi Municipal Corporation showcases a way forward to address the complex problems of decarbonising urban logistics, air pollution, climate change, and gender inequality. Hon’ble Justice Shri Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court and Hon’ble Mayor of Kochi Shri Adv.M Anilkumar inaugurated a demonstration project on September 15, 2022, to promote zero-emission light goods

  • VACANT LAND SURVEY – DATA HANDING OVER CEREMONY

    The vacant land survey data handing over ceremony held as part of the ‘Rapid Response Policy Engagement’ project done with the support of University of Reading, UK and SCMS School of Architecture. The is project is co-ordinated by c-hed.

  • MoU signed between c-hed and MG University

    A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the Centre for Urban Studies and Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (c-hed) to work together on urban development, public governance, urban studies and research activities.   The programme was attended by the Hon’ble Mayor of Kochi Adv. M Anilkumar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of M G University

  • Stakeholder discussion on “Transforming adoption of E-Autos in Indian Cities” initiative

    The stakeholder discussion on “Transforming adoption of E-Autos in Indian Cities” initiative held  at Kochi Municipal Corporation council hall.

  • Inauguration of the Mini Nature Interpretation Centre and the release of the Handbook on ‘Trees of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry

    The inauguration of the Mini Nature Interpretation Centre and the release of the Handbook on ‘Trees of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry’ were held at Subhash Bose Park.                    

  • World Environment Day 2022 – Kawaki project launch

    The launch of the Kawaki project as part of the World Environment Day celebration was held at Subhash Bose park, Kochi    

  • European Union – IURC delegation visits the Greater Cochin Development Authority

    The European Union – IURC delegation visited the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and held discussion with the Chairman Sri. K Chandran Pillai and team.  

  • European Union – IURC delegation visits Cochin Port Trust

    The European Union – IURC delegation visited the Cochin Port Trust and held discussion with the Chairman Dr. M. Beena IAS and team.                    

  • European Union – IURC delegation visits Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research, CUSAT

    The European Union – IURC delegation visited the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research of the Cochin University for Science and Technology and held discussion with Dr. Abhilash. S, Director, and team.

  • EU – IURC delegation visits CSML

    The visiting EU – IURC delegation had a detailed discussion on Kochi’s smart city project and programmes. Sri. Shanavas IAS , CEO , CSML briefed the delegation about the ongoing projects. They also discussed with the team the programmes and area of cooperation within IURC.

  • Mullassery Canal Project – Team visit

    Ms. Teresa Kerber, the Project Manager for SUD-SC Phase II project of GIZ visited Kochi to meet with the Hon’ble Mayor and Dr. Rajan Chedambath, Director, c-hed. She was accompanid by Ms. Charlotte Pusch, GIZ, Ms. Fathim Rashna, GIZ, Mr. Esakkiraj S, GIZ. The team also visited the Ente Kochi Urban Design Competition site –

  • TUMI – WAY FINDING SIGNAGES INAUGURATION

    Kochi Ithile way finding signage project was created based on Reimagining Fort KochiProposal and and Transport Strategy document by SMART-SUT for West Kochi Island withpartners including Kochi Municipal Corporation, Centre for Heritage, Environment andDevelopment (C-HED), and GIZ India , through the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative(TUMI), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and

  • KAWAKI PROJECT INAUGURATION

    Nature Based Solutions is one of the few important verticals in which Kochi Municipal Corporation is focused on. In this regard Kochi Municipal Corporation is launching the KAVAKI initiative, which focuses on increasing the cities green cover by developing urban grooves of native trees in a data-based approach focusing on the most heat stress vulnerable

  • The city of Kochi is an important place of employment for migrant workers in Kerala. The migrant workers in any urban centre are often forced to live in unhygienic and unsafe conditions. The case to some extent in Kochi is the same. They are often denied the access to safe and fair accommodation in the

  • Setting up of Integrated Support Platform for Women Entrepreneurship in Kochi

    Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and cities. With an emphasis on the economic and social upliftment and security of women, Kochi Municipal Corporation with the support of GIZ India launched the Women Entrepreneurship Project ‘Venture Initiation Program – Women (VIP: Women)’under the SDG and Governance component of

  • Auto Ambulance service

    An emergency service to cater to the needs of COVID patients, especially transport of COVID patients to hospitals, supply of medicines, oximeter, oxygen cylinder and thermometer and to patients houses, etc kick started yesterday in the city. Covid relief works have been on the radar for Kochi municipal corporation and C-HED has been providing backend

  • Policy Presentation- Rapid Response Policy Engagement – Affordable Rental Housing for Internal Migrants

    The city of Kochi is an important place of employment for migrant workers in Kerala. Workers from Tamil Nadu have been living and working in the city for decades. In addition, workers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and many more can be found in the city today. The migrant workers

  • Hybrid Workshop – The Morgenstadt Global Smart City Innovation Lab

    Kochi is one among the Indian cities selected for ‘The Morgenstadt Global Smart City Innovation Lab’. The project is being coordinated and implemented in the city by the C-HED with the technical support of the University of Stuttgart and Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO), Stuttgart. The other prominent institutions that have partnered in this

  • Subhash Bose Park Reopening

    The prestigious Subhash Bose Park is maintained by Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development. The park is a fine example of our efforts . It serves as the green lungs of the core city and a space for recreation . It is now alive and vibrant with music concerts , performing arts and other cultural

  • VISIT OF CONSUL GENERAL OF FRANCE AND AFD INDIA DIRECTOR

    The Consul General of France in India Ms. Lise TALBOT BARRE and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) India Director Bruno Bosle visited the North-South Mobility Corridor project area during their recent visit to Kochi.

  • ECOLOGISTICS STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION MEETING

    Today the whole world is facing serious climate change issues, as a result of uncontrolled carbon emissions from various sectors mainly transport sector. Our Kochi is one of the areas that suffers the most from its bitter effects. Unscientific transportation is one of the major problems facing Kochi in this regard. Based on this, several

  • RAPID RESPONSE POLICY ENGAGEMENT – ONLINE COLLOQUIUM

    An online workshop on ‘Explore Issues and Solutions for Solving Housing Challenges of Migrant Workers in Kochi, Kerala’ was organized as part of Rapid Response Policy Engagement project on March 16, 2021 as part of the comprehensive planning of the recommendations received from the stakeholder workshop held on March 5, 2021. Hon’ble Mayor Adv. M

  • URBAN ENERGY TRANSITION – STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION WORKSHOP

    Kochi, one of the major urban agglomerations in the state is seriously pondering on the need for sustainable energy transition. It has been very proactively discussing and engaging with various stakeholders to identify the opportunities and challenges of clean energy projects within the city. In this regard, the urban energy transition project, the brainchild of

  • RAPID RESPONSE POLICY ENGAGEMENT – STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION WORKSHOP

    The city of Kochi is an important place of employment for migrant workers in Kerala. Workers from Tamil Nadu have been living and working in the city for decades. In addition, workers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and many more can be found in the city today. The migrant workers

  • CANOPY ART-HOLIC PAINTERS CAMP

    Kochi Corporation in association with Kerala Lalithakala Academy  conducted Canopy Art-Holic Art Camp of painters on March 4th -6th, 2021 at the Chatiyath Queens Walkway. The three day camp organised as part of the ambitious Arts Space Kochi (ASK) project had 10 renowned artists brushing the colours of the expression of nature on to the

  • Road Safety Event organized under ASK

    As part of the Road Safety Month campaign, Kochi Municipal Corporation (KMC) jointly with Transport Department, Government of Kerala and Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) have launched the Road Safety awareness event in Kochi on February 16, 2021. The event was supported by Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED) under the initiative ‘Art Space

  • ASK MUSICAL EVENT AT KOCHI DURBAR HALL GROUND AND KOITHARA PARK

    As part of Arts Space Kochi a live music events was held at Durbar Hall and Koithara Park in Kochi on February 14, 2021. The performances were done by the music band of young techies named ‘Untagged’. The event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Mayor Adv. M. Anil Kumar. The event was held in association

  • ARTS SPACE KOCHI PROGRAMME LAUNCH

    Kochi Corporation in association with the district administration in coordination with the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED), launched Arts Space Kochi (ASK) on February 8, 2021 Monday in an effort to encourage arts, particularly in public spaces. The project kicked off with an inaugural event at the cultural corner of Kochi Metro Rail

  • Biodiversity strategy and action plan for Kochi

    The Kochi Corporation has prepared a local biodiversity strategy and action plan which sets 29 goals for the city to achieve on biodiversity conservation by 2025. The city is the first in the country to develop a ‘scientifically informed and participatory’ action plan, according to Mayor Soumini Jain’s message in the plan. The plan was

  • Kochi City Biodiversity Index

      The City Biodiversity Index and Illustrated Natural Asset Map of Kochi Municipal Corporation, prepared under INTERACT- Bio project was released by Hon’ble Mayor Soumini Jain. Kochi is one the very few cities in India who have developed the City Biodiversity Index. The City Biodiversity Index of Kochi has been developed with support from ICLEI-Local

  • The release of report on C-HED

    The release of the book “Institutional Innovation to Strengthen Urban Local Governments in India, The case of Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED), Kochi Municipal Corporation, Kerala” prepared under SMART-SUD project by GIZ was done by the Hon’ble Mayor of Kochi on September 22, 2020. The report release conducted virtually was attended by counter

  • C-HED signs MoU with NIUA

    Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED) signed an Memorandum of Understanding with National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), one of the apex research institutes in the country. The Hon’ble Mayor of Kochi who is also the chairman of c-hed and the director of NIUA inked pact for a sustainable and livable Kochi that was

  • Cities4Forests – Project Launch

    Cities4Forests is a movement conceptualised to catalyse political, social, and economic support among city governments and urban citizens to integrate the inner, nearby, and faraway forests into city development plans and programs. Cities4Forest helps cities from around the world connect with and invest in forests. The project is initiated by a consortium of international agencies like

  • International Urban Cooperation Project

    Funded by the European Union, the International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme activities will support the achievement of bilateral policy objectives as well as major international agreements on urban development and climate change, such as the Urban Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement. The IUC programme will engage with major international financial institutions and

  • URBAN PATHWAYS

    URBAN PATHWAYS   The Urban Pathways project helps delivering on the Paris Agreement and the NDCs in the context of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It has established a facility in close cooperation with other organisations and networks active in this area to support national and local governments to develop action plans

  • Fort Kochi Visioning Workshop

    Fort Kochi is known as the cradle of Eurasian culture. It has a history of more than 500 years with an influence of both Indian and international cultures. Its vibrant history and culture makes it one of India’s major tourist hotspot. It has also been included under Kochi Smart City Project. WRI India in collaboration with Kochi Municipal Corporation ,Cochin Smart

  • Kick-off workshop to road map for Zero Carbon Buildings for Kochi city

    The Kochi Municipal Corporation (KMC) had, in its Annual Budget 2018-19, announced a rather innovative project “Zero Carbon Buildings” , which it intends to implement by associating with World Resources Institute India (WRI India) to develop a roadmap and action plan for all buildings to achieve zero carbon potential for Kochi city. Kochi is both a solar city and smart city and

  • Maintenance and Management of Subash Chandra Bose Park

    The Subhash Bose Park sandwiched between Park Avenue and the Ernakulam backwaters and facing the harbour is the most scenic and tranquil public space in the city. As the city chokes with ever-growing traffic and congested living conditions, this park has become the green lung and breathing space for the citizens of Kochi. It is