India, May 9 -- The Delhi forest and wildlife department has floated a proposal to develop a high-density Miyawaki forest across 10 acres of the Central Ridge along Sardar Patel Marg, a move that has drawn criticism from ecologists and restoration experts who warned that the technique is unsuitable for a natural forest ecosystem such as the Ridge.

The request for proposal (RFP), issued earlier this week by the west forest division and seen by HT, proposes planting 100,000-150,000 saplings at a density of three to five plants per square metre after the removal of invasive species such as vilayati kikar (Prosopis juliflora) and lantana. The project has an estimated cost of Rs.5 crore.

The document argues that traditional plantation method...