Chinar
Conservation Network (CCN) is a core group formed by esro Kashmir to
promote the movement to revive dying Chinar , botanically
known as Platanus orientails.
The team comprises of prominent environmental scientists and
individuals from across the Valley who have made significant efforts
to protect ailing Chinar in their respective cities. The Project has
been created by the esro Kashmir Chapter in association with The
Jammu & Kashmir Government India .
CCN Prog. Components
Promoting complete protection
of Chinar.
Initiate catalyze actions that
prevent destruction of Chinar
Establishing Chinar Database
Carry out Study Reports about
Chinar
Plantation Drive.
Group is active
in spearheading campaigns and mobilizing local communities to
protect the Chinar, because it is difficult to imagine valley
without them. Our objective is to motivate the urban population in
Kashmir, to make them aware of the manifold benefits of Chinar also
served as historical identity of the community and to emphasise the
urgent need to take action in reviving them.
The mandate of the core group, constituted in 2004, is to document
facts on the ecologically fragile and sensitive Chinar trees and to
assemble detailed case study dossiers in order to create a
comprehensive State database -- a challenging and an unprecedented
exercise.
We at CCN
unanimously shared our anxieties about Chinar survival. High on the
worry list is the apathy of government bodies and officials in
protecting Chinar. This apathy shows up in nexus between the
government officials and the builders' lobby.
It is strange that no tears are being shed even as stately chinar
trees are vanishing from Kashmir valley. Chinar trees are being
neglected, cut and virtually left to mercy of wolves in human form
every day. In Srinagar city, for instance, construction of concrete
stone walls and parapets around the chinar trees is proving
detrimental for their survival. Widening of roads, construction of
Shopping malls, drainage laying and other ill planned construction
activities are proving detrimental for their survival. We at CCN
believe that during last 15 years about 8000 chinar trees have
dried, while 10000 will face similar conditions within few years.
The loot and plumber is visible even to naked eye. Admittedly their
general care has suffered much earlier that the present political
turmoil in the State. CCN find it difficult to understand that in
respect of decaying of Chinar trees at very high rate, State
government have never bothered to communicate Statement publically
about its cause.
The majestic Chinar could very well be on way to extinction if the
dwelling numbers of tree over the past decades are anything to go
by. Urgent measures are called for not only to protect the already
reduced numbers of trees in the Valley but also to make up the loss
over the years by planting more chinars.
Over the past three decades, the number of chinars in Valley has
declined drastically. From around 42000 in 1970, their number has
dwindled to 17620.The extensive road widening, metalling and black
topping with tar near the chinars besides untimely looping, pruning
and applying insecticides, pesticides, and replacement of soil are
the main causes of drying and death of chinars. The existing chinars
are not being maintained
Various departments, including Public Works Department; Roads and
Buildings; Tele Communication Department; Lakes and Waterways
Development Authority; Urban Environment Engineering Department;
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and University of Kashmir have
floated the court order of seeking permission before undertaking any
construction near the chinar site. As a result many a tree have been
either eliminated , or irreparably demaged.
A case in point is road widening at Awarin near Batamaloo Bus Stand
where an old chinars was demaged and then cut down by the
authorities to facilitate the repair work. Similarly along National
Highway from Sonwar to Joinery Mills Pampore. The condition of
chinar on Residency road , MA road, Tourist Reception Centre and
Nigeen - Naseembagh Road are deteriorating .
It is ironic that the chinars at Naseembagh (largest cluster – 1200)
are similarly thought to have been demaged by the excessive
construction by the Kashmir University where young generations are
taut to save the same tree...
The plight of
Chinar is sad and pathetic - trees are drying up rapidly from top ,
branches are rotting away . If the monarchs like Mughals, Pathans ,
Maharajas could love Chinar with core of their heart , could nourish
it with milk , can't we simply protect this priceless heritage
. We
believe that TogetherweCAN make a difference!
Confused Governance
The development
and conservation programme of the chinars was transferred to
Floriculture
Department in
1984. However, the department lacks proper facilities and manpower.
Its protection was vested upon the Revenue department, but they too
have failed to
protect the
chinar, but now power has been transferred to Deputy Commissioners.
Authorities have given the authority of preservation and protection
of Chinars to a Jammu-based official “who has least knowledge about
chinars as In Jammu the chinars don’t grow. However, this has hardly
made any difference. When nobody is interested in the preservation
of chinars their death is imminent.
Kashmiri's may have lost their concern for chinars because there are
more pressing agendas, but we have to go on harping until they
realize the ecological importance of majestic Chinar Tree....
"It is difficult to imagine valley without Chinar". Lets us together
save our Environmental Heritage .
About Chinar
Tree
1
Botanically known as Platanus orientails and locally called as
Boen. Chinar tree is an integral part of Kashmiri culture. Iqbal
RA, the poet of the East, traces the warmth of the Kashmir soil
to the "blaze of chinar it nurses in its bosom". The Mughals
treated the chinar as royal tree and propagated it on the
massive scale in Kashmir. Shah Jehan planted 1200 saplings in
the Naseembagh alone and watered them with milk.
There love for the tree that was also found in abundance in
their ancestral homeland in Central Asia has concerned the myth
that Mughals introduced the Chinar to Kashmir. However, Kashmiri
literature provides references to show that the tree was
available in the valley before the advent of the Mughals, even
as a recent report suggest that geologist have found a seven
lack old fossil of Chinar from south Kashmir.
The tree attains a height of up to 25 mts and a girth exceeding
50 feet in certain cases. Circumference of 63 feet and 5 inches
have been reported from lolab valley.
CCN
Kashmir looks forward to your involvement and continued
support. We have much to do together in our effort to conserve
and protect the Chinar within Kashmir for future generations.
Lets come together and make this mission a vision of success....
Report any
instances of cutting, timber smuggling, fires, disease of Chinar
to CCN- esro Kashmir Chapter. Refuse purchase of furniture made
of chinar timber. Plant chinar trees as many as you can in your
vicinity.
eIEN South Asia
Western Himalaya Kashmir
CCN KASHMIR
a movement to revive dying Chinars...
esrokashmir.org
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CCN
eIEN South Asia
Western Himalaya Kashmir
Chinar Conservation Network (CCN) is a core group formed by esro Kashmir to promote the movement to revive dying Chinar , botanically known as Platanus orientails. The team comprises of prominent environmental scientists and individuals from across the Valley who have made significant efforts to protect ailing Chinar in their respective cities. The Project has been created by the esro Kashmir Chapter in association with The Jammu & Kashmir Government India .
CCN Prog. Components
Promoting complete protection of Chinar.
Initiate catalyze actions that prevent destruction of Chinar
Establishing Chinar Database
Carry out Study Reports about Chinar
Plantation Drive.
Group is active in spearheading campaigns and mobilizing local communities to protect the Chinar, because it is difficult to imagine valley without them. Our objective is to motivate the urban population in Kashmir, to make them aware of the manifold benefits of Chinar also served as historical identity of the community and to emphasise the urgent need to take action in reviving them.
The mandate of the core group, constituted in 2004, is to document facts on the ecologically fragile and sensitive Chinar trees and to assemble detailed case study dossiers in order to create a comprehensive State database -- a challenging and an unprecedented exercise.
We at CCN unanimously shared our anxieties about Chinar survival. High on the worry list is the apathy of government bodies and officials in protecting Chinar. This apathy shows up in nexus between the government officials and the builders' lobby.
It is strange that no tears are being shed even as stately chinar trees are vanishing from Kashmir valley. Chinar trees are being neglected, cut and virtually left to mercy of wolves in human form every day. In Srinagar city, for instance, construction of concrete stone walls and parapets around the chinar trees is proving detrimental for their survival. Widening of roads, construction of Shopping malls, drainage laying and other ill planned construction activities are proving detrimental for their survival. We at CCN believe that during last 15 years about 8000 chinar trees have dried, while 10000 will face similar conditions within few years.
The loot and plumber is visible even to naked eye. Admittedly their general care has suffered much earlier that the present political turmoil in the State. CCN find it difficult to understand that in respect of decaying of Chinar trees at very high rate, State government have never bothered to communicate Statement publically about its cause.
The majestic Chinar could very well be on way to extinction if the dwelling numbers of tree over the past decades are anything to go by. Urgent measures are called for not only to protect the already reduced numbers of trees in the Valley but also to make up the loss over the years by planting more chinars.
Over the past three decades, the number of chinars in Valley has declined drastically. From around 42000 in 1970, their number has dwindled to 17620.The extensive road widening, metalling and black topping with tar near the chinars besides untimely looping, pruning and applying insecticides, pesticides, and replacement of soil are the main causes of drying and death of chinars. The existing chinars are not being maintained
Various departments, including Public Works Department; Roads and Buildings; Tele Communication Department; Lakes and Waterways Development Authority; Urban Environment Engineering Department; Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and University of Kashmir have floated the court order of seeking permission before undertaking any construction near the chinar site. As a result many a tree have been either eliminated , or irreparably demaged.
A case in point is road widening at Awarin near Batamaloo Bus Stand where an old chinars was demaged and then cut down by the authorities to facilitate the repair work. Similarly along National Highway from Sonwar to Joinery Mills Pampore. The condition of chinar on Residency road , MA road, Tourist Reception Centre and Nigeen - Naseembagh Road are deteriorating .
It is ironic that the chinars at Naseembagh (largest cluster – 1200) are similarly thought to have been demaged by the excessive construction by the Kashmir University where young generations are taut to save the same tree...
The plight of Chinar is sad and pathetic - trees are drying up rapidly from top , branches are rotting away . If the monarchs like Mughals, Pathans , Maharajas could love Chinar with core of their heart , could nourish it with milk , can't we simply protect this priceless heritage . We believe that Together we CAN make a difference!
Confused Governance
The development and conservation programme of the chinars was transferred to Floriculture Department in 1984. However, the department lacks proper facilities and manpower. Its protection was vested upon the Revenue department, but they too have failed to protect the chinar, but now power has been transferred to Deputy Commissioners. Authorities have given the authority of preservation and protection of Chinars to a Jammu-based official “who has least knowledge about chinars as In Jammu the chinars don’t grow. However, this has hardly made any difference. When nobody is interested in the preservation of chinars their death is imminent.
Kashmiri's may have lost their concern for chinars because there are more pressing agendas, but we have to go on harping until they realize the ecological importance of majestic Chinar Tree.... "It is difficult to imagine valley without Chinar". Lets us together save our Environmental Heritage .
About Chinar Tree
Botanically known as Platanus orientails and locally called as Boen. Chinar tree is an integral part of Kashmiri culture. Iqbal RA, the poet of the East, traces the warmth of the Kashmir soil to the "blaze of chinar it nurses in its bosom". The Mughals treated the chinar as royal tree and propagated it on the massive scale in Kashmir. Shah Jehan planted 1200 saplings in the Naseembagh alone and watered them with milk.
There love for the tree that was also found in abundance in their ancestral homeland in Central Asia has concerned the myth that Mughals introduced the Chinar to Kashmir. However, Kashmiri literature provides references to show that the tree was available in the valley before the advent of the Mughals, even as a recent report suggest that geologist have found a seven lack old fossil of Chinar from south Kashmir.
The tree attains a height of up to 25 mts and a girth exceeding 50 feet in certain cases. Circumference of 63 feet and 5 inches have been reported from lolab valley.
CCN Kashmir looks forward to your involvement and continued support. We have much to do together in our effort to conserve and protect the Chinar within Kashmir for future generations. Lets come together and make this mission a vision of success.... Report any instances of cutting, timber smuggling, fires, disease of Chinar to CCN- esro Kashmir Chapter. Refuse purchase of furniture made of chinar timber. Plant chinar trees as many as you can in your vicinity.
For Detailed Information Write us at
eIEN South Asia
Western Himalaya
Kashmir
Chinar Conservation
Network
Naseembagh
Srinagar
190 006 Kashmir India
ccn@esrokashmir.org