Heritage trees stand as living monuments

Noted environmentalist Dr. Natesh calls for State and public participation in conservation

Mysuru: Dr. S. Natesh, noted environmentalist, former Advisor, Department of Biotech, Government of India and author of ‘Iconic Trees of India’, has stressed that safeguarding India’s centuries-old heritage trees is a shared responsibility of State Governments and the public alike.

Delivering a talk titled “The Tree That Swallowed a Border Post and Other Iconic Trees of India” at the ‘Science Sanje’ programme organised by Kalasuruchi and Kutuhali-Kannada at Suruchi Rangamane, Kuvempunagar, Mysuru last evening, Dr. Natesh shed light on India’s most remarkable trees and their fascinating histories.

He highlighted that many such trees, some dating back over a thousand years, continue to be protected by communities and even security forces at India’s borders, standing as silent witnesses to the nation’s cultural and historical evolution.

Dr. Natesh also spoke about the unique lifestyles of the Naga Sadhus of the Northeast, known for their deep traditional knowledge of forests and medicinal plants, yet another testament to India’s rich natural heritage intertwined with cultural practices.

“These iconic trees are not mere botanical specimens —they are living chronicles of our past. Everyone must protect and nurture them for generations to come,” he urged.

Iconic heritage trees of India

• Chandigarh’s 300-year-old banyan tree: Located near the Gurudwara in Sector 38, this ancient banyan has been officially declared a heritage tree and symbolises the city’s deep-rooted bond with nature.
• The Indo-Pak border’s ‘tree that swallowed a post’: A massive banyan tree on the international border has engulfed a border post since 1947, preserved by the Border Security Force (BSF) as a living landmark of history.
• Gujarat’s 1,300-year-old ‘walking mango tree’: In Sanjan village, this unique mango tree, locally called Sanjan Chalto Ambo, has reportedly ‘moved’ nearly 200 metres over centuries by growing new roots along its horizontally sprawling branches.

• Asia’s lone giant Sequoia tree: At the CSIR Yarikha Field Station in Tangmarg, Baramulla district, North Kashmir, a giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum or Giant Redwood tree) — believed to be about 150 years old — holds the distinction of being the only surviving redwood species in Asia and has been declared a heritage tree.