Delhi to get 1000 sandalwood trees

  • July 21, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Delhi to get 1000 sandalwood trees

Subject: Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context:Following directions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) plans to plant around 1,000 red and white sandalwood (chandan) trees across New Delhi and Lutyens’ areas.

Content:

  • The sandalwood trees will be planted in secured areas and parks such as Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden, Sanjay Jheel, and Talkatora Stadium, among other campuses and institutions.
  • The trees will be planted in an adjacent pattern.
  • The NDMC also plans to geo-tag the trees with QR codes and install information boards along the trees through which the public can scan and read about their benefits.
  • The cost of one sandalwood sapling is around Rs 350 and the estimated cost of 1,000 trees is Rs 3.5 lakh.

Challenges

  • Sandalwood trees are not native to Delhi. They are grown in parasitic environments and ridge areas.
  • Unfit for dry conditions as they are grown in tropical regions like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, etc.
  • Less chance for trees to survive.
  • Terminal infection and soil erosion.
  • Huge Cost for the project.

Chandan Trees and their Uses:

  • Although Sandalwood has many species but only two of them i.e., White Sandalwood and Red Sandalwood are most widely cultivated.
  • Globally, India & Australia are the largest growers of sandalwood, while the biggest markets lie in the United States, China, Japan & the Indian domestic market.
  • Sandalwood is used for making oil, soap and face packs, and for aromatherapy, and it has been largely known for its fragrance for decades.
Red Sandalwood/PterocarpussantalinusWhite Sandalwood/ Santalum album
  • Southern parts of the Eastern Ghats in India; majorly in forest tract of Andhra Pradesh
  • IUCN Status: Endangered
  • Wood is extremely hard, Dark greyish bark, requires lot of sunlight and warm climate
  • doesn’t have fragrant wood
  • can survive on a variety of soils even on degraded soils 
  • has the value of timber and is largely used for furniture, musical instrument, food dyes ansspices
  • Can be used for blood purification, treat eye disorders, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic agent.
  • Export is banned in India in accordance with the CITES and Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
  • Southern India and Southeast Asia mostly in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
  • Commonly known as Indian Sandalwood
  • IUCN Status: Vulnerable 
  • Woods are heavy in weight, yellow coloured, fine-grained
  • retain their fragrance
  • Considered Sacred in some religions
  • Slightly alkaline soil
  • can live as a parasite in the roots of other tree’s but without much harm to the host.
  • has cosmetic and medicinal values- use in treatment of respiratory ailments, antiseptic and astringent and also work against skin conditions like acne, eczema.
Delhi to get 1000 sandalwood trees Environment