Gujarat state that boasts of unique trees will soon have its list of heritage trees -the tallest, oldest, most flowering ones, including the ones with cultural and historical importance. The new move is bound to attract visitors and promote tourism at places where the trees are existing.
All these heritage trees will figure in the book “Heritage Trees of Gujarat” which will be published by the Gujarat Forest Department in the near future. The initiative was taken by H S Singh, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Social Forestry. The parameters used to identify the heritage trees were their trunk size, height, age, cultural importance and uniqueness.
“The Forest Department has identified an 80-year-old Banyan tree at Dandi village in south Gujarat, beneath which Mahatma Gandhi organized meetings. There is yet another interesting banyan tree that was discovered in Vijayanagar area of Sabarkantha district. It is believed that Mahrana Pratap's wife used to swing on the Banyan tree. The original tree does not exist now, but through its roots, new trees have grown. The Forest Department will protect that area of Vijaynagar,” said H S Singh.
