Sign In
Learn bits
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

More Related Current Affairs View All

22 Aug

Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education (USAME) Bill, 2025

'The Uttarakhand Assembly on Wednesday passed the Minority Education Bill, 2025, extending minority status benefits to institutions run by the Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and

Read More

22 Aug

India needs a national space law urgently

'A nation with a strong base in science and technology is a nation with a strong backbone” — these words of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ring truer than before as India celebrate

Read More

22 Aug

Organ transplantation

'The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) recently issued a direction stating that women patients and relatives of deceased donors will receive priority in org

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps