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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

27/01/25 09:22 AM IST

Geo-tagging and ‘Aadhaar’ of Chinar tree

In News
  • The Jammu & Kashmir government has launched the “Tree Aadhaar” mission for the conservation of the region’s chinar trees which have been dwindling in numbers over the years.
Chinar Tree
  • Chinar, also known as Oriental plane tree (plantus orientalis var cashmeriana), is a maple-like tree with a huge canopy and is found in cool climate regions with sufficient water.
  • The tree is a characteristic of the Eastern Himalayas. It takes 30-50 years for a tree to mature and 150 years to reach its full size.
  • The tree can grow up to a height of 30 metres while its girth ranges from 10 to 15 metres.
  • The name ‘chinar’ was given to the tree by Mughals — some suggest it was Mughal emperor Jahangir who coined the name.
  • It is said that the word ‘chinar’ came into use after someone witnessed crimson red chinar tree leaves from a distance during the autumn season, and shouted “Che naar ast” — a Persian phrase meaning “What flame is that?”
  • Mughals played a significant role in expanding chinar plantations in the Kashmir valley and some parts of the Chenab region in Jammu.
  • It was considered as a “royal tree” by the Mughals. During his reign, Jahangir set up a Chinar garden called Naseem Bagh on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.
  • Naseem Bagh had more than 1,100 chinar trees.
  • Jahangir also planted these trees on a small island in the Dal Lake known as Chaar Chinari (four chinars).
Importance of Chinar Tree
  • Chinar is the “state tree” of Jammu & Kashmir, now a Union Territory.
  • The tree is a major tourist attraction in the valley during the autumn season when its green leaves slowly change into crimson red and golden.
  • The tree finds a special place in the art, literature and craft of Kashmir — local papier mache, embroidery, hand-woven carpets and walnut wood carvings often feature chinar motifs.
  • The tree is also a special feature of many Muslim and Hindu shrines in the valley.
  • It is said that the oldest surviving chinar — which is around 700 years old — in the valley is located at Chattergam village of central Kashmir’s Budgam and was planted by a Sufi saint.
Chinar Conservation project
  • To cut a chinar tree, the government’s nod is needed, even if the tree is on someone’s private property.
  • However, often, the trees are cut anyway. The new project aims to make sure the government can track the status of each tree.
  • Thus, the new initiative involves conducting a census of chinar trees across the Kashmir valley and the Chenab region.
  • As part of the process, the government has not only enumerated chinar trees but also given a unique identity — called Tree Aadhaar — to each chinar tree.
  • The census has been done district-wise. Each tree has been geo-tagged.
  • 28,560 chinar trees have been enumerated and GI tagged so far.
  • A metallic QR code will be fixed on chinar trees.
  • The code when scanned will provide information about the particular tree on 25 parameters.
  • These include the longitude and latitude of the tree, its age, height, girth, the number of branches and the health of the tree.
  • It will also provide information about its canopy and eco-threats faced by the tree.
Source- Indian Express

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