Geo-tagging and aadhar-like codes: How the J&K govt is trying to conserve the region’s chinar trees

Here is simply a look astatine the inaugural and the value of the tree.

But first, what is simply a chinar tree?

Chinar, besides known arsenic Oriental level histrion (plantus orientalis var cashmeriana), is simply a maple-like histrion with a immense canopy and is recovered successful chill clime regions with capable water. The histrion is simply a diagnostic of the Eastern Himalayas. It takes 30-50 years for a histrion to mature and 150 years to scope its afloat size. The histrion tin turn up to a tallness of 30 metres portion its girth ranges from 10 to 15 metres.

How did the histrion get its name?

The sanction ‘chinar’ was fixed to the histrion by Mughals — immoderate suggest it was Mughal emperor Jahangir who coined the name. It is said that the connection ‘chinar’ came into usage aft idiosyncratic witnessed crimson reddish chinar histrion leaves from a region during the autumn season, and shouted “Che naar ast” — a Persian operation meaning “What occurrence is that?”

Mughals played a important relation successful expanding chinar plantations successful the Kashmir vale and immoderate parts of the Chenab portion successful Jammu. It was considered arsenic a “royal tree” by the Mughals. During his reign, Jahangir acceptable up a Chinar plot called Naseem Bagh connected the banks of Dal Lake successful Srinagar. Naseem Bagh had much than 1,100 chinar trees. Jahangir besides planted these trees connected a tiny land successful the Dal Lake known arsenic Chaar Chinari (four chinars).

What is the value of chinar successful Kashmir?

Chinar is the “state tree” of Jammu & Kashmir, present a Union Territory. The histrion is simply a large tourer attraction successful the vale during the autumn play erstwhile its greenish leaves dilatory alteration into crimson reddish and golden. The histrion finds a peculiar spot successful the art, lit and trade of Kashmir — section papier mache, embroidery, hand-woven carpets and walnut wood carvings often diagnostic chinar motifs.

The histrion is besides a peculiar diagnostic of galore Muslim and Hindu shrines successful the valley. It is said that the oldest surviving chinar — which is astir 700 years aged — successful the vale is located astatine Chattergam colony of cardinal Kashmir’s Budgam and was planted by a Sufi saint.

What is the chinar conservation project?

Over the years, the fig of chinar trees successful the portion has dwindled chiefly owed to the enlargement of infrastructure projects. To summation the tree’s population, the authorities has present launched an inaugural which involves conducting the census of chinar trees crossed the Kashmir vale and the Chenab region.

Under the conservation project, the authorities has not lone enumerated the trees but has besides fixed a unsocial individuality — called ‘Tree Aadhaar’ — to each chinar tree. The census has been done district-wise. Each histrion has besides been geo-tagged.

According to Dr Syed Tariq, the coordinator of the project, 28,560 chinar trees person been enumerated and GI tagged truthful far.

“We deliberation the full fig of chinar trees successful Jammu and Kashmir is determination betwixt 32,000 to 33,000. Out of these, we person ge-tagged 28,560 trees that are accessible,” helium told The Indian Express. “There are immoderate chinar trees which we can’t entree due to the fact that they are successful no-go areas similar information installations. Other than that we person GI tagged each the trees”.

Tariq besides said they person started to enactment a metallic QR codification connected chinar trees. The codification erstwhile scanned volition supply accusation astir the peculiar histrion connected 25 parameters. These see the longitude and latitude of the tree, its age, height, girth, the fig of branches and the wellness of the tree. It volition besides supply accusation astir its canopy and eco-threats faced by the tree.