Lucknow, 19 July: Yogi Adityanath’s government in Uttar Pradesh will beautify 948 historic trees as part of its commitment to preserving the state’s cultural legacy through the historic Tree Adoption Scheme. As many as 28 tree species have been certified as “heritage trees” that are more than 100 years old.
These trees may be found in all 75 of the state’s districts. Varanasi has 99 historic trees, Prayagraj has 53, Hardoi has 37, Ghazipur has 35, and Unnao has 34.
Yogi Government raises public awareness through preserving endangered tree species and trees associated with mythological/historical events, particular persons, landmarks, religious practises, and beliefs. By environment, forest, and climate change, guidelines for the selection and recording of historic trees have been provided.
The Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board has certified over 100-year-old trees in non-forest regions (community land) as historic trees. Aru, Arjuna, Mango, Tamarind, Kaim, Karil, Kusum, Khirni, Shami, Gamhar, Gular, Chitwan, Chilbil, Jamun, Neem, Adansonia, Pakad, Peepal, Peelu, Banyan, Mahua, Mahogany, Mysore Banyan, Sheesham, Sal, Semal, Haldu, and Tumal are a few examples.
There are 363 Banyan species trees and 422 Peepal species trees. Trees associated with the spiritual and liberation movements have also been included in the heritage tree category. In Gorakhpur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s hometown, 19 trees have been classified as historic trees.
Moreover, mother trees of Dussehri and Langra mangoes in Lucknow and Varanasi, Bachan Imli in Fatehpur, Imli tree in Imlitala temple complex in Mathura, Karil tree in Pratapgarh, Adansonia tree located in Barabanki, Pakad tree located in Hapur and Sant Kabir Nagar, Bodhi tree of Sarnath, Peepal tree of Ambedkar Nagar, famous as Baba Jharkhand and Peepal tree associated with freedom movement at Ordinance Cloth Factory Shahjahanpur are included as heritage trees.
Among the special heritage trees, the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang mentioned the Adansonia tree of Jhunsi (Prayagraj), the Peelu tree located in the Ter Kadamba temple complex, and Nidhi Van of Mathura, Akshayavat in the Prayagraj fort, and the Banyan tree located at Valmiki Ashram in Unnao district.
Popular locations are the Luv-Kush Birthplace and Janki Kund. A banyan tree at NBRI Lucknow and the Mahamaya Devi Temple Complex in Ghaziabad, both involved with the first liberation movement, are also featured.
In addition to respecting the heritage, the Yogi Government will seek common people’s cooperation for the protection and conservation of heritage trees and the promotion of biodiversity in the region by cultivating a sense of affection, harmony, and affinity among people for trees by linking heritage trees with public sentiment and promoting eco-tourism in the area.
There are 948 history trees in Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts, with the majority of these being in Varanasi, which has 99 heritage trees.
Prayagraj has 53 historic trees, Hardoi 37, Ghazipur 35, and Unnao 34 in total. Rae Bareli has 32 historic trees, Jhansi has 30, Firozabad has 29, Lakhimpur Kheri has 27, Bareilly and Bahraich have 26 each, while Lucknow has 25 and Jaunpur has 24. Heritage trees include 57 Pakad trees, 363 Banyan trees, and 422 Peepal varieties.
