Budgam Chinar tree identified as one of Asia's oldest

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has identified a 650-year-old Chinar tree in Chattergam, located in the Budgam district, as being among the oldest of its species in Asia. The information was shared with the Assembly by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department in response to inquiries regarding the tree's condition and preservation.

While some old and dried branches have fallen naturally, the tree remains green. To ensure its survival, authorities have installed an iron fence around the critical root zone to prevent soil compaction, root suffocation, and vehicular movement.

The government noted that the decline of Chinar populations across Kashmir is due to natural aging, disease, pests, developmental felling, and shrinking land availability. To combat this, the administration has implemented geo-tagging and digital monitoring for tens of thousands of trees. Current regulations prohibit unauthorized branch cutting, carving bark, or attaching signboards to Chinar trees.