Description

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Context:

Recently, the iconic Chinar trees in Kashmir have been geo-tagged and equipped with QR codes for digital protection of the Valley’s heritage tree.

About Chinar Tree:

Aspect	Details
Island in Dal Lake	Located in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Known as Char Chinari, Ropa Lank, or Rupa Lank.
Dal Lake Islands	Includes 3 islands: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, and Dal.
Botanical Name	Platanus orientalis
Type	The large, deciduous tree is known for the longevity and spread of the crown.
Characteristics	Grows in the eastern Himalayas; thrives in cold climates with sufficient water.
	In autumn, leaves change from dark green to blood red, amber, and yellow.
Applications	1. Leaves and bark: Used in medicine.
	2. Wood: Known as lajcer, used for fine furniture.
	3. Twigs and roots: Used to make dyes.

About the Aadhaar Tree Project

As part of this project, more than 28,560 Chinese trees were geotagged to create a comprehensive database. Trees are assigned unique tree Aadhaar numbers and a QR code attached to the digital board allows anyone to scan and access important details including tree location, height, girth, crown, health status, environmental threats, and presence of pests.

Conservation efforts

The initiative is part of a larger effort to conserve these trees whose numbers are dwindling due to various factors.
Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 28,000 trees were allocated.
Other plans:
- Apart from this innovative documentation, the J&K Forest department plans to create Atlas Chinar, a comprehensive catalog of all Chinese trees across the region.
- The initiative also focuses on geo-tagging trees in restricted areas ensuring that even the most remote trees are included in conservation efforts.

About the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

It was founded in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is an organizational unit for the country's science (ESSO).

Functions: Permanent member of the UNESCO intergovernmental commission (MOV). It provides important information and consulting services related to the ocean. It issues warnings of tsunamis, storm waves, high waves, etc. Through the Indian Center of Early Warning of Tsunami (ITEWC).

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Chinar tree:

The Chinar tree is located primarily in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, and is also known as Char Chinari, Ropa Lank, or Rupa Lank.
The tree thrives in cold climates and is found mostly in the western Himalayas.
The leaves of the Chinar tree change color from dark green to red, amber and yellow during autumn.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Chinar tree is located in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, and is also known by the names Char Chinari, Ropa Lank, or Rupa Lank.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Chinar tree is found in the eastern Himalayas, not the western Himalayas.

Statement 3 is correct: The leaves of the Chinar tree change color from dark green to red, amber, and yellow during autumn.