Chandigarh University to map heritage trees in Mohali district

Chandigarh University has launched a scientific initiative to identify, document and conserve ecologically, culturally and religiously significant heritage trees across Mohali district. The Rs 11-lakh project, funded by the Punjab Biodiversity Board (PBB) under the National Biodiversity Authority, will create the district’s first comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) based database of heritage trees.

The project is being implemented by the Department of Biosciences at the University Institute of Biotechnology (UIBT) under the leadership of Prof (Dr) L K Attri, Head of the Department of Biosciences and Dr Shailika Sharma, Assistant Professor.

Prof Attri said the project aims to document the ecological, cultural and religious significance of heritage trees through digital tagging, geospatial mapping and scientific assessment of parameters such as height, trunk diameter, health, biomass and carbon sequestration potential. The project was conceived in collaboration with Dr Gurharminder Singh, Principal Scientific Officer, PBB. — TNS