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ORGANIC MONUMENTS THAT NEED PROTECTION

Heritage: Heritage refers to something inherited from the past. Natural heritage refers to
the inheritance of fauna and flora, geology, landscape and landforms and other natural
resources.

Heritage tree: A heritage tree is generally a large individual tree with unique value, which is
considered irreplaceable. The main criteria for considering a tree as heritage tree are its
size, form, shape, age, colour and rarity. The aesthetic, botanical, horticultural, ecological,
social, cultural and historical values are also taken into account. These trees take decades
and centuries to mature and beautify the landscape. They act as prominent landmarks of
the place where they exist. A specimen associated with a historic person, place, event or
period is also treated as heritage tree. It may be a representative of a crop grown by
ancestors and their successors that is at risk of vanishing from cultivation. A heritage tree
can also be a tree associated with local folklore, myths, legends or traditions. Certain species
that are relatively rare in an area, whether native or not, may also be granted special status.
For example, Uka or Peelu (Salvadora persica) identified in Omandur Kamakshi Amman
Temple premises (Trichy district) is comparatively rare. Hildegardia populifolia said to be
found only in Kodaikanal has been discovered in Kalvarayan hills also. Mara Uri (Antiaris
toxicaria) endemic to Western Ghats has been discovered in (Pachamalais-part of Eastern
Ghats) Eastern Ghats also. Special law is to be enacted to impose restriction upon removal
of these precious trees. With the rapid development of the state, there is a great danger of
losing the national heritage to urbanisation.

SALVADORA PERSICA HILDEGARDIA POPULIFOLIA ANTIARIS TOXICARIA

Various Heritage Tree Programs in India: The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) of
Kerala State has initiated a proposal to mark the grand old trees with a health-card
depicting its strength condition and other physical features in order to conserve them. The
scheme has already been introduced in Trivandrum, which is known for a large number of
heritage trees. It has been decided by KFRI to extend this program to other parts of the
state after consulting the civic authorities concerned.
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The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has recommended to the Government to declare 10 trees
in the state as heritage trees under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. In Mysore a
Committee for the protection of heritage trees has been formed in 2007 for the purpose of
identifying century old trees in the city and the environs and to highlight their historical and
ecological values. Now they have identified some heritage trees and provided a small board
with relevant data such as the name of the plant, scientific name, its family, approximate
age and the person/organisation looking after the trees. Tree preservation societies have
been formed in Delhi, Bangalore and Pune to protect the heritage trees form illegal cutting.

Tamil Nadu, an abode of Heritage Trees: Tamil Nadu is known for many interesting trees
remarkable for their spiritual, cultural, biological and historical values. But no systematic
study has been undertaken so far to identify and prepare a catalogue of these giant and
weird trees. In this scenario, a detailed study has to be undertaken to discover, identify,
photograph and document these ancient living monuments as they are our rich heritage.
Besides the study, awareness programmes have to be conducted among the villagers,
school and college students and committees are to be formed to protect these Living
Monuments also known as the Organic Monuments of our Planet.

Importance of Heritage Trees: The ecosystem services what these trees provide such as
shelter for wildlife, carbon sequestration, release of oxygen, shade, soil conservation,
creation of microclimate, eco-tourism, etc are much more valuable. The heritage trees of
Tamil Nadu can be performed as an outreach ecology endeavour for conserving nature. The
ancient trees are keystone species and important representatives of the natural forests.
They stand testimony to the social, cultural, spiritual and traditional values of the people of
this state. The medicinal values what they possess are being made use of by the rural
community from time immemorial. The living fossils promote eco-tourism also to a great
extent.

Heritage Tree Ownership: Though many of the ancient trees are found in the reserved
forests falling under the jurisdiction of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, many more trees
are located on the banks of rivers, in private lands, especially in private and Government
temple lands. These trees are maintained and managed by the concerned Government and
private authorities. The temple trees are protected properly because of the spiritual
sentiments attached to the sacred trees. These people are to be motivated with some kind
of reward in recognition of their great service in protecting the ancient trees. Some kind of
legal provision has to be made available for conserving these valuable trees.

Heritage Tree Nomination: The heritage trees available in private holdings are to be
discovered, identified and enlisted first of all. Then the trees enlisted are to be nominated
by obtaining proper heritage tree nomination forms from the private holders. The
individuals concerned can be provided with some incentive for protecting the living
monuments.
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Special Legislation required: The heritage trees found within the reserved forest limits are
already having legal protection as per the Tamil Nadu Forest Act. But at the same time, the
trees located outside the forests in private holdings do not have any legal protection as
there is no specific legislation to conserve the trees. Hence, a special legislation has to be
enacted in order to protect the heritage trees discovered in private lands. Besides enacting
the act, the implementing authorities concerned are also to be specified exactly in the
legislation as many ancient trees are being cut in the name of infrastructure development.
As shown in the photo, publicity boards are nailed on certain age old trees and thereby they
are being injured. And in certain cases, the exact name is also not known and as a result
some other name is written. These mistakes are to be corrected only by identifying these
land mark trees through a team of experts and making the public to realize the importance
of protecting the living fossils.

HERITAGE ILUPPAI MARAM HERITAGE ANAI PULIYA MARAM

WITH PUBLICITY BOARDS NAILED ON IT INCORRECTLY WRITTEN AS ANAIKKAAL MARAM

How to go about: The heritage trees are formally recognized by their unique size, age,
shape, cultural, spiritual or historical significance. The trees are to be provided with a small
plaque containing their vernacular name, scientific name, family name, girth at breast
height (GBH), Height, approximate age, GPS readings, etc. Even for pruning, inoculating or
for carrying out any silvicultural operation, necessary permission has to be obtained from
the implementing authorities. The trees nominated once cant be removed without the
special permission of the authorities concerned. In case of any dead, dying or dangerous
tree, necessary approval for removal can be given only by the authorities concerned.

Documenting the heritage trees: As far as the trees found in the reserved forests
concerned, the Forest Department officials will be able to support the programme of
enlisting the heritage trees. In case of trees that are located in private lands, they are to be
identified with the support of the local people. The entire Tamil Nadu state has to be toured
and perambulated to discover, identify, measure the GBH and height, photograph, collect
other relevant data pertaining to the trees (such as ownership, historical or spiritual
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importance related to the trees) and document them. While enumerating the heritage
trees, the local villagers, the school and college students and other public can be given some
kind of awareness about the importance and the need of conserving the trees for posterity.
Every tree has to be provided with a plaque containing necessary details as already
described. Necessary nomination form can also be obtained from the concerned private
individuals or the community as a whole. Since we are gradually losing these valuable living
monuments in the name of development or by illegal removal, documenting the heritage
trees is very much required and it has to be carried out on war footing. Suitable legislation
also has to be enacted in order to conserve the landmark trees of the state, which speak
volumes of our cultural, traditional, spiritual, social, historical and ecological significance.

(All photos were captured by the Author)

V.Sundararaju.IFS,

Former DFO,

President, Society for Conservation of Nature (SOFCON),

Tamil Nadu, India.

Mail id: sundarifs.raju@gmail.com

www.sofcon.org

Mobile: 9443170366.