SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir
For Kashmiri environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat, witnessing the axing of 500-year-old Chinar trees was a moment of profound distress.
Some of the centuries-old trees, revered as symbols of Kashmir’s heritage, were cut down last month in a northern district of Indian-administered Kashmir, under the pretext of pruning. Images of massive Chinar trunks, strikingly similar to maple trees, surfaced from Anantnag on Feb. 27, sparking outrage among residents and conservationists.
Bhat, deeply dismayed, took to social media to condemn the destruction, accusing authorities of razing Chinars “under the garb of pruning” for the past 30 years.
“It is blatant abuse of environmental regulations and laws. It’s truly sad to see such heritage being lost for petty gains,” Bhat told Anadolu.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act of 1996, Chinar trees cannot be felled or removed without approval from a divisional commissioner – a high-ranking government authority. Even on private land, a special permit is required for their removal.
Despite being the state tree of the disputed Himalayan region and a symbol of its ecological identity, Chinar numbers have declined dramatically over the past few decades due to factors ranging from climate change to urbanization and illegal felling.
A 2021 report by the region’s Forest Department estimated that Chinar numbers, once around 42,000 in the 1970s, had dwindled to between 17,000 and 34,000. An ongoing census has identified more than 30,000 trees so far.
Climate change and environmental stress
Kashmir’s landscape is adorned with towering Chinar trees, which can grow 30 to 32 meters (98 to 100 feet) high, with expansive crowns providing cooling shade.
However, these majestic trees take 40 to 50 years to mature and over a century to reach their full size, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances.
Experts warn that climate change and shifting weather patterns are major contributors to their decline – rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts have disrupted the natural growth cycles of Chinars, weakening their resilience.
Anzar Ahmad Khuroo, a botanist and professor at the University of Kashmir, describes the situation as “climate-induced change” that is depriving Chinars of the stable conditions they need to thrive.
The increase in heatwaves and rising temperatures means plant life, including Chinars, that grows in cooler conditions is losing the ability to sustain themselves, he said.
“These trees require cooler conditions, but prolonged heat stress disrupts their hydration and photosynthesis, leading to premature leaf drop, poor regeneration, and even mortality,” Khuroo told Anadolu.
A 2021-2022 study conducted by researchers at Kashmir University found that “during 41 years from 1980 to 2020, the maximum and minimum temperatures in Kashmir rose by 2.00 (degrees Celsius) and 1.10 (degrees Celsius), respectively.”
The impact of this rise on regional biodiversity has been significant.
“Over the years, we’ve seen more erratic weather patterns with major fluctuations in temperatures. Summers are harsher with extreme heat waves and the winters have their own colder extremes,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, director of the region’s meteorological department.
“These fluctuations are definitely affecting plant life and disrupting ecological balance.”
In addition to climate-related stress, Chinar trees are also falling prey to illegal felling, road infrastructure projects, rapid urban sprawl, poor maintenance, and inadequate conservation efforts.
The trees are also suffering from fungal infections, pest infestations, soil degradation, and pollution, according to conservationists.
Disappearing cultural heritage
Some of Kashmir’s oldest Chinar trees, aged between 600 and 700 years, are found in the region’s historic Mughal gardens. These trees have been deeply interwoven into Kashmiri traditions, art, literature, and poetry.
Historians trace the origin of Chinars in Kashmir to Central Asia, while some theories link them to Greek and Hindu mythology. However, archaeological excavations at Burzahom, an ancient site over 3,000 years old, have revealed charcoal remains of Chinar wood, suggesting that the tree has been indigenous to Kashmir for millennia.
The findings at Burzahom have established that “Chinars existed in this region long before people travelled here,” according to historian and author Abdul Ahad.
“But there is no doubt that these trees were planted all over during the Mughal era. The Chinar was regarded as a ‘royal tree’ under the Mughals,” Ahad, who has served as chief of archives, archaeology, and museums, as well as secretary for culture and education in the region, told Anadolu.
Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, is credited with planting nearly 1,100 Chinars along Dal Lake during his reign. Today, only 700 of those trees remain, while a Forest Department report states that the others were either removed for infrastructure expansion or succumbed to disease-causing pests and pathogens.
Digital conservation efforts
Despite their dwindling numbers, Chinars remain an integral part of Kashmir’s landscape and biodiversity, providing shelter for numerous bird species, acting as carbon sinks, and playing a role in ecological balance. They also hold medicinal value and their wood is used in handicrafts and furniture making.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Forest Department has launched a geotagging initiative to digitally monitor Chinar trees across the region.
Under this initiative, QR codes are attached to each surveyed tree, recording 25 key characteristics, including age, location, health status, and growth patterns. This data helps conservationists track changes and identify risk factors.
“We have surveyed at least 29,000 Chinar trees so far, and more than 10,000 have been geotagged. This allows us to maintain a comprehensive database and address specific threats to each tree. The public can also scan QR codes to access information about individual trees,” Syed Tariq, project coordinator for the initiative, told Anadolu.
While digital tracking is a step forward, experts argue that Chinars need more than technology to survive.
“We must address environmental degradation and human interference to ensure these iconic trees thrive,” said activist Bhat.
He stressed the need for community involvement in conservation, calling on local authorities to enforce stringent protection measures and promote reforestation programs.
“Stricter laws, better maintenance, and replantation efforts are crucial.”
