Date:24/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112450060200.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Mysore’s ‘oldest’ tree gets heritage status

Staff Correspondent

It is said to be 300 years old and is located on Manasagangotri campus

MYSORE: The Committee for Protection of Heritage Trees on Sunday accorded “heritage tree” status to a tamarind tree located on the premises of a 25-acre nursery in the Manasagangotri campus here.

The committee, which has been striving for the conservation of century-old trees, by according them a heritage status, believes that the tamarind tree is over 300 years old. Among the six tamarind trees in the garden, the tree which was given heritage status is the oldest.

Incidentally, it is the oldest tree among those which had been declared such by the committee here. This is the fifth tree to have been accorded heritage status since February 2007.

Susceptible

Prof. A. Ramalingam of the committee told The Hindu that tamarind trees were susceptible to lightning strikes and one of the branches of the tree had been separated perhaps owing to lightning or strong wind.

“Of the remaining two branches of the tree, one was in a dying state as it had no connection with the roots due to the age factor and another still had links with the roots. Because of this, the tree will survive for some more years,” he said.

At risk

Mysore is home to many trees which are over 100 years old.

Even they are at risk because of the burgeoning real estate development in the city.

The trees are being felled to make way for residential layouts and townships.

The committee was formed last year after 33 nature lovers, including retired professors of the University of Mysore, came together with the aim of protecting them. Till this date, several such trees had been identified for conservation and five had been declared heritage trees.

Growing awareness

Owing to the efforts of the committee, there is growing awareness on the need to preserve them.

Environment activists are sensitising schoolchildren on the importance of preserving trees in the city, which was once described as “garden city”.

The Big Banyan tree on T. Narsipur Road; a peepul tree on the Manasagangotri campus and a silk cotton tree on the premises of Curzon Park are among those that were given heritage status.

After declaring them so, the committee displays a nameplate on the tree with details such as the its age and botanical name.