Is transplanting trees a solution to nature conservation or just a short-term solution?
- TOutdoor transplantation is the uprooting and replanting of a mature tree from its original location to a new one.
- It is often used to preserve green spaces rather than cutting down trees for infrastructure projects. But the practice comes with challenges, such as cost, shock to the tree, environmental impacts, and uncertainty about long-term success if post-transplant care and monitoring is not done properly.
- The success of the transplant also depends on the health, species, age, shape of the tree crown, climate and time of day of transplanting. Care, maintenance and continuous monitoring are also crucial both before and after the procedure.
- Integrating trees into infrastructure can be a more effective and sustainable approach than replanting and requires creative architectural solutions.
The much-awaited Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities. However, it comes at a significant environmental cost. Reports suggest that the project will result in the loss of over 9,500 trees, many of which have already been cut down. “Hundreds of trees on both sides of the expressway have been cut down. The expressway, once known for its shade, is lying fallow. These trees could have been transplanted,” said B. Ilango, founder of Jayam Trees Translocation, a company that transplants trees across South India.
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