User:Sitorujonat/Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities
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== '''Plot''' == == '''Plot''' == Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities is a non-fiction book by Harini Nagendra and Seema Mundoli is a book that explores the history, ecology, and culture of trees in Indian urban landscapes. The book combines environmental science, urban studies and social narratives to explore how trees are central within the everyday life of Indian cities. Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities is a non-fiction book by Harini Nagendra and Seema Mundoli is a book that explores the history, ecology, and culture of trees in Indian urban landscapes. The book combines environmental science, urban studies and social narratives to explore how trees are central within the everyday life of Indian cities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Abdul |date=2019-05-15 |title=Cities and Canopies - JLR Explore |url=https://jlrexplore.com/explore/explore-pulse/cities-and-canopies |access-date=2026-04-22 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The book is structured with multiple thematic chapters with different parts including scientific information, cultural recipes or even personal anecdotes to present trees in a different light. The book highlights commonly found species such as banyan, beem, tamarind and palm trees and discusses their cultural significance and ecological roles in different regions of India.These aspects of the science of urban trees are woven in with bits of history, folk tales, culinary recipes, and art and games ideas to play with trees and tree parts. The book is also richly illustrated with detailed sketches. The book is structured with multiple thematic chapters with different parts including scientific information, cultural recipes or even personal anecdotes to present trees in a different light. The book highlights commonly found species such as banyan, beem, tamarind and palm trees and discusses their cultural significance and ecological roles in different regions of India. These aspects of the science of urban trees are woven in with bits of history, folk tales, culinary recipes, and art and games ideas to play with trees and tree parts. The book is also richly illustrated with detailed sketches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tandon |first=Aditi |date=2019-06-19 |title=[Book Review] The stories of our roots |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2019/06/book-review-the-stories-of-our-roots/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Mongabay-India |language=en-US}}</ref>
The book also critiques the contemporary urban lifestyle which includes how younger generations reduce their time outdoors and have an active detached lifestyle from nature. But the author also explores how urban planning trends and aesthetic preferences have influenced the type of trees planted in cities. The book also critiques the contemporary urban lifestyle which includes how younger generations reduce their time outdoors and have an active detached lifestyle from nature. But the author also explores how urban planning trends and aesthetic preferences have influenced the type of trees planted in cities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raghavendra |first=Gadagkar |title=Democratizing Science and Redefining Education |date=July 2019 |publisher=[[Indian Institute of Science]]}}</ref>
Cities and Canopies is a narrative that aims to raise awareness and jumpstart reflection on how urban environments can evolve to maintain meaningful connections with nature. Cities and Canopies is a narrative that aims to raise awareness and jumpstart reflection on how urban environments can evolve to maintain meaningful connections with nature. Line 13: Line 13:
== '''Reception''' == == '''Reception''' == Cities and Canopies is an award-winning book, winning numerous awards such as the winner of Publishing Next’s Printed Book of the Year Award and has also been featured on the Green Literature Festival Honour List. It also won the 2020 Publishing Next Awards for best English non-fiction book in India. Cities and Canopies is an award-winning book, winning numerous awards such as the winner of Publishing Next’s Printed Book of the Year Award and has also been featured on the Green Literature Festival Honour List. It also won the 2020 Publishing Next Awards for best English non-fiction book in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities and Canopies |url=https://www.penguin.co.in/book/cities-and-canopies/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Penguin Random House India |language=en-US}}</ref>
The book was generally well received for its engaging and accessible approach to urban ecology. Aditi Tandon from Mongabay-India described the book as an enjoyable blend of scientific knowledge, historical context and cultural storytelling in the form of an enjoyable discussion. The review also highlighted Nagendra and Mundoli’s ability to evoke nostalgia and collective memory while using cultural and natural heritage of the trees instead of the book being a manual or a guide for trees. However, Tandon also criticized The book was generally well received for its engaging and accessible approach to urban ecology. Aditi Tandon from Mongabay-India described the book as an enjoyable blend of scientific knowledge, historical context and cultural storytelling in the form of an enjoyable discussion. The review also highlighted Nagendra and Mundoli’s ability to evoke nostalgia and collective memory while using cultural and natural heritage of the trees instead of the book being a manual or a guide for trees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tandon |first=Aditi |date=2019-06-19 |title=[Book Review] The stories of our roots |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2019/06/book-review-the-stories-of-our-roots/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Mongabay-India |language=en-US}}</ref>
Raghavendra Gadhakar, a DST Year of Science Chair Professor Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Science, described the book as “a work of science and art”. The book was also said to effectively bridge the gap between scientists and the public. Raghavendra Gadhakar, a DST Year of Science Chair Professor Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Science, described the book as “a work of science and art”. The book was also said to effectively bridge the gap between scientists and the public.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Raghavendra |first=Gadagkar |date=July 2019 |title=Democratizing Science and Redefining Education |url=https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/024/07/0771-0774 |journal=[[Indian Institute of Science]]}}</ref>
== '''Legacy''' == == '''Legacy''' == Cities and Canopies has contributed to the discussion on urban ecology and has been cited in comparative research on Indian cities which supports this perspective which shows that local history and planning decisions shape each city’s landscape.(Oraon et al., 2025). Cities and Canopies has contributed to the discussion on urban ecology and has been cited in comparative research on Indian cities which supports this perspective which shows that local history and planning decisions shape each city’s landscape.
The book has also been valued for its accessible writing style, which connects scientific concepts into personal anecdotes and relatable bits of information. The book has also been valued for its accessible writing style, which connects scientific concepts into personal anecdotes and relatable bits of information.
== '''Plot''' == == '''Plot''' == Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities is a non-fiction book by Harini Nagendra and Seema Mundoli is a book that explores the history, ecology, and culture of trees in Indian urban landscapes. The book combines environmental science, urban studies and social narratives to explore how trees are central within the everyday life of Indian cities. Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities is a non-fiction book by Harini Nagendra and Seema Mundoli is a book that explores the history, ecology, and culture of trees in Indian urban landscapes. The book combines environmental science, urban studies and social narratives to explore how trees are central within the everyday life of Indian cities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Abdul |date=2019-05-15 |title=Cities and Canopies - JLR Explore |url=https://jlrexplore.com/explore/explore-pulse/cities-and-canopies |access-date=2026-04-22 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The book is structured with multiple thematic chapters with different parts including scientific information, cultural recipes or even personal anecdotes to present trees in a different light. The book highlights commonly found species such as banyan, beem, tamarind and palm trees and discusses their cultural significance and ecological roles in different regions of India.These aspects of the science of urban trees are woven in with bits of history, folk tales, culinary recipes, and art and games ideas to play with trees and tree parts. The book is also richly illustrated with detailed sketches. The book is structured with multiple thematic chapters with different parts including scientific information, cultural recipes or even personal anecdotes to present trees in a different light. The book highlights commonly found species such as banyan, beem, tamarind and palm trees and discusses their cultural significance and ecological roles in different regions of India. These aspects of the science of urban trees are woven in with bits of history, folk tales, culinary recipes, and art and games ideas to play with trees and tree parts. The book is also richly illustrated with detailed sketches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tandon |first=Aditi |date=2019-06-19 |title=[Book Review] The stories of our roots |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2019/06/book-review-the-stories-of-our-roots/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Mongabay-India |language=en-US}}</ref>
The book also critiques the contemporary urban lifestyle which includes how younger generations reduce their time outdoors and have an active detached lifestyle from nature. But the author also explores how urban planning trends and aesthetic preferences have influenced the type of trees planted in cities. The book also critiques the contemporary urban lifestyle which includes how younger generations reduce their time outdoors and have an active detached lifestyle from nature. But the author also explores how urban planning trends and aesthetic preferences have influenced the type of trees planted in cities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raghavendra |first=Gadagkar |title=Democratizing Science and Redefining Education |date=July 2019 |publisher=[[Indian Institute of Science]]}}</ref>
Cities and Canopies is a narrative that aims to raise awareness and jumpstart reflection on how urban environments can evolve to maintain meaningful connections with nature. Cities and Canopies is a narrative that aims to raise awareness and jumpstart reflection on how urban environments can evolve to maintain meaningful connections with nature. Line 13: Line 13:
== '''Reception''' == == '''Reception''' == Cities and Canopies is an award-winning book, winning numerous awards such as the winner of Publishing Next’s Printed Book of the Year Award and has also been featured on the Green Literature Festival Honour List. It also won the 2020 Publishing Next Awards for best English non-fiction book in India. Cities and Canopies is an award-winning book, winning numerous awards such as the winner of Publishing Next’s Printed Book of the Year Award and has also been featured on the Green Literature Festival Honour List. It also won the 2020 Publishing Next Awards for best English non-fiction book in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities and Canopies |url=https://www.penguin.co.in/book/cities-and-canopies/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Penguin Random House India |language=en-US}}</ref>
The book was generally well received for its engaging and accessible approach to urban ecology. Aditi Tandon from Mongabay-India described the book as an enjoyable blend of scientific knowledge, historical context and cultural storytelling in the form of an enjoyable discussion. The review also highlighted Nagendra and Mundoli’s ability to evoke nostalgia and collective memory while using cultural and natural heritage of the trees instead of the book being a manual or a guide for trees. However, Tandon also criticized The book was generally well received for its engaging and accessible approach to urban ecology. Aditi Tandon from Mongabay-India described the book as an enjoyable blend of scientific knowledge, historical context and cultural storytelling in the form of an enjoyable discussion. The review also highlighted Nagendra and Mundoli’s ability to evoke nostalgia and collective memory while using cultural and natural heritage of the trees instead of the book being a manual or a guide for trees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tandon |first=Aditi |date=2019-06-19 |title=[Book Review] The stories of our roots |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2019/06/book-review-the-stories-of-our-roots/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Mongabay-India |language=en-US}}</ref>
Raghavendra Gadhakar, a DST Year of Science Chair Professor Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Science, described the book as “a work of science and art”. The book was also said to effectively bridge the gap between scientists and the public. Raghavendra Gadhakar, a DST Year of Science Chair Professor Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Science, described the book as “a work of science and art”. The book was also said to effectively bridge the gap between scientists and the public.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Raghavendra |first=Gadagkar |date=July 2019 |title=Democratizing Science and Redefining Education |url=https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/024/07/0771-0774 |journal=[[Indian Institute of Science]]}}</ref>
== '''Legacy''' == == '''Legacy''' == Cities and Canopies has contributed to the discussion on urban ecology and has been cited in comparative research on Indian cities which supports this perspective which shows that local history and planning decisions shape each city’s landscape.(Oraon et al., 2025). Cities and Canopies has contributed to the discussion on urban ecology and has been cited in comparative research on Indian cities which supports this perspective which shows that local history and planning decisions shape each city’s landscape.
The book has also been valued for its accessible writing style, which connects scientific concepts into personal anecdotes and relatable bits of information. The book has also been valued for its accessible writing style, which connects scientific concepts into personal anecdotes and relatable bits of information.