Why These Indian Trees Are Preferable
1. Biodiversity restoration
Native species support:
- birds
- butterflies
- bees
- soil microorganisms.
Ficus species alone support hundreds of insect and bird species.
2. Alignment with traditional knowledge
Many native trees appear in Ayurvedic plant knowledge documented in classical texts such as:
- Charaka Samhita
- Sushruta Samhita.
These trees historically formed part of temple gardens, sacred groves, and medicinal landscapes.
3. Climate resilience
Native species:
- tolerate heat and drought better
- require less irrigation
- maintain urban soil health.
4. Cultural continuity
Trees such as:
- Raavi Chettu, Pippilam – Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa)
- Maredu, Bilvamu/Sriphalamu – Indian Bael (Aegle marmelos)
- Kadambamu, Rudraakshakamba (Neolamarckia cadamba)
are deeply embedded in Indian religious and cultural traditions.
Policy implication
Future urban forestry, Smart Cities landscaping, and monument conservation programs led by the Archaeological Survey of India could prioritize these indigenous species to gradually restore historically rooted and biodiverse public landscapes