While India has been rapidly improving its forest cover and green spaces, there are stark regional disparities with areas such as Salem and Hyderabad lagging behind large cities.

First American (India) therefore decided to launch the Sub-Urban Green Cover Improvement and Community Engagement programme to "dramatically increase" greenery in suburban or rural areas.

Sustainable Company Awards judges praised the programme as a "well-designed and executed community greening project" as they named it Nature-based initiative of the year, APAC.

The initiative, which is fully funded by the company, works with local partners to deliver various green improvements. This includes delivering avenue plantations, organic vegetable gardens and garden kitchen.

The company is involved across the lifecycle of the project including initial planning followed by monitoring, evaluation, and overall governance.

Community benefits have been significant, including providing greater access to healthy food or introducing alternative revenue streams for local communities. Orchards in particular offer farmers high potential earnings once trees begin to bear fruit. The company said this "significantly improves" their livelihood and financial resilience.

The programme has also had wide-ranging sustainability benefits, critical for a country at the frontline of the climate and nature crisis simultaneously. It claims to have a sequestration potential of around 68,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and introduced an irrigation system which could save over 751 million litres of water. Other benefits include soil health improvements and reduced urban heat.

YR Madhusoodhana and Sandeep Narayan, representatives of First American (India) told Environmental Finance that the project "transcends a traditional afforestation initiative by deeply embedding the local community, their livelihoods, and well-being at its heart, ensuring a lasting and sustainable impact for the long term".