UP Govt Launches ‘Heritage Tree Adoption’ to Preserve 100-Year-Old Trees

Lucknow, Jul 7 (PTI) The government of Uttar Pradesh has made a commitment to preserving the state's natural heritage by adopting and taking care of 948 trees that are over 100 years old under the 'Heritage Tree Adoption' scheme, as per an official release on Monday.

Under the scheme, there are 28 species of heritage trees in 75 districts classified by their ecological, cultural and historical significance.

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According to the release, Varanasi is at the top with 99 heritage trees adopted, followed by 53 in Prayagraj, 37 in Hardoi, 35 in Ghazipur and 34 in Unnao.

The project also demonstrates the government's intention to honour and preserve the biodiversity of the state, especially the ones that have religious connection, history, or a connection to a legendary figure.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change established guidelines on how to identifying and document these trees in the environment, and the Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board has started to establish the criteria by recognising trees on community land as well as in non-forest areas as heritage trees.

More than metropolis trees, they trees are revered species such as Banyan (363 trees), Peepal (422 trees), Mango, Arjun, Shami, Neem trees, as well as rare trees such as Adansonia and Pilu trees.

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Some famous trees include the "mother trees" of Dussehri mango (Lucknow) and the Langra mango (Varanasi), the well-known Bachan Tamarind of Fatehpur, the Bodhi tree of Sarnath, the Peepal tree connected with the freedom struggle at Shahjahanpur's Ordinance Cloth Factory, the Akshayvat tree inside the Prayagraj Fort, the Pilu tree in Ter Kadamba (Mathura), and the Banyan trees in Gorakhnath temple (Gorakhpur), Janaki Kund (Chitrakoot), and Valmiki Ashram (Unnao), the statement mentioned.

The state is also engaging the public in the initiative by increasing awareness and educating citizens on the importance of community involvement, relating to these trees, and creating an emotional connection with them.

The state government expects to develop a sustainable community climate for biodiversity conservation by connecting heritage trees with local identity and eco-tourism, the statement said.

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