Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World.

Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  • Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1
  • Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation of Statement 1
  • Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is not correct
  • Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct

Answer: d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct

Notes:

Tree Cities of the World Programme:
  • It is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated.
  • At the 2018 World Forum on Urban Forests in Mantova, Italy, world leaders issued the Mantova Green Cities Challenge and a call-for-action that included joining the Tree Cities of the World program.
  • Hyderabad has become the only city in India to be recognized as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
  • Hyderabad is placed alongside 119 other cities from 63 countries.
  • Hyderabad is the only city in India to have been selected for this recognition in response to its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forestry through the Haritha Haram Program and Urban Forest Parks.
  • Haritha Haram is a flagship program of the Telangana government to increase the green cover of the State from the present 25.16 to 33% of the total geographical area.
  • Urban forestry helps in ensuring a better future for its residents.
Arbor Day Foundation
  • The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization founded in 1972 in Nebraska, United States, by John Rosenow.
  • It is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to tree planting.
  • Its vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, a changing climate, deforestation, poverty, and hunger.
Food and Agriculture Organization:
  • FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
  • World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on the 16th of October. The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of the FAO in 1945.
  • India released a commemorative coin of Rs. 75 denomination to mark the 75th Anniversary of the FAO (16th October 2020).
  • It is one of the UN food aid organizations based in Rome (Italy). Its sister bodies are the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).