Kirtida Mekani, Singapore’s ‘Tree Lady’ and Sustainability Icon, Passes Away at 66

On January 19, 2026, Kirtida Mekani, hailing from Karnataka, popularly known as Singapore’s ‘Tree Lady,’ breathed her last at 66. The reason for her sudden death was a massive heart attack. She was the country’s most influential champion of environmental sustainability, community service, and cultural heritage. Her demise has left a void in Singapore’s environment, arts, and civic communities that she shaped for more than three decades.

A recipient of the President’s Award for environmental work and an inductee of the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame in 2024, she planted over 76,000 trees, inspiring citizen-led green initiatives. 

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Kirtida Mekani Passes Away at 66: Know Her Story!

Planted this beautiful evergreen tree – Campnosperma auriculatum at the Spottiswoode Park. Scattered the mulch around the tree trunk post the planting to provide the nourishment to enrich the soil. #savesoil #conciousplanet pic.twitter.com/Yu61pWUbqX — Kirtida Mekani (@kirtidamekani) April 17, 2022

Since childhood, Kirtida Mekani had a love for nature. Additionally, as a kid, she spent time on her family’s farm in Karnataka. She was amused after discovering how a “smelly” compost pit turned into fertile soil. As a result, the simple yet transformative soil opened her eyes to nature’s regenerative power.

The childhood lessons and philosophy stayed with her throughout the years. In 1990, she moved to Singapore with her husband Bharat Mekani. The greenery along the drive at the Changi Airport left her awestruck. In 1993, Mekani stepped up as the Founder and Executive Director of the Singapore Environment Council. She spent four years designing and implementing over 50 environmental protection and education programmes for schools, businesses, and communities. Later, she stepped down from her role but remained deeply involved in grassroots environmental education. She thus began mentoring young leaders and advising organisations.

In 2007, in partnership with Singapore’s National Parks Board under the Garden City Fund, she launched the Plant-A-Tree Programme. Despite scepticism and doubts over public participation, she remained headstrong. The programme saw over 76,000 trees planted, introduced more than 200 native species, and involved over 100,000 participants from all walks of life. In 2015, her work earned her the President’s Award for the Environment. In 2016, she co-founded the Biomimicry Singapore Network, uniting scientists, designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs to explore nature-inspired innovation. Additionally, she served on the board of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Singapore and as a trustee of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Kirtida Mekani’s sudden demise clearly left everybody mourning.