From cherries to dragon fruit: How a retired Bengaluru techie built a 600-sq-ft rooftop forest that attracts birds and cleans the air

As cities expand rapidly with growing urbanisation and deforestation, green spaces are slowly disappearing from everyday life.High temperatures, poor air quality, and heat waves are increasingly prevalent due to increased construction and loss of tree cover in many parts of the world. But a few people have found ways to make a difference and save nature in their communities.For instance, Venkataraman, a retired mechanical engineer from Bengaluru, turned his home terrace into a mini rainforest. According to an article in The Better India, the green terrace has become a sanctuary ofnature in the midst of a bustling metropolitan city.Covering about 600 sq. ft., the garden on top of the five-storey building is crafted like the Western Ghats' forests. Currently, over 100 different types of plants and many birds, butterflies, and bees thrive in the beautiful garden.Videos shared by The Better India, and fellow mechanical engineer Gurunandan Rao M show the terrace filled with fruit-bearing trees and useful plants. The garden includes cherries, dragon fruits, red bananas, avocados, citrons, curry leaves, flat beans, and even coffee seeds. The vibrant greenery attracts more than 17 species of birds and also supports stingless bees and butterflies.It is said that Venkataraman started off the project with planting some potted plants in honor of his mother. His passion for gardening continued growing, and soon he transformed the entire terrace into a green, multi-level ecosystem. The lower two levels of the terrace are filled with thick plantation, whereas the top level has a Shiva temple along with a sophisticated water distribution and recycling system for the plants. Even with heavy rains, thunderstorms, and hailstorms in Bengaluru, the terrace garden has not suffered much. It is reported that Venkataraman mentioned in the interview that the drumstick tree was responsible for holding onto the roots of other plants tightly.In addition to promoting biodiversity, the rooftop forest also helps in reducing the temperature in its surroundings by at least 3 to 4 degrees in the summer months. Apart from that, there is almost a 10% improvement in air quality around the house because of the abundant greenery.However, Venkataraman’s one-of-a-kind venture serves as a reminder that individual initiatives can make significant contributions towards environmental conservation. Venkataraman's terrace rainforest is indeed an inspiration for turning urban areas into green spaces, even within a congested metro city.