Udaipur: When it is about picking one of two things - development or preserving trees, government's preference is the first. Consequence is rapid loss of green cover caused by large number of tree-felling for making way for roads, buildings and flyovers. But this Udaipur-based plant scientist has developed convenient and affordable technology to translocate trees instead of cutting them down. Badri Lal Chowdhary, a botanist at Mohanlal Sukhadia University has moved more than 10,000 trees not only in Rajasthan but many other cities in India, Africa and South America in past 16 years.“With cities across the world rapidly losing green cover, there is an urgent need for more research on the viability of tree translocation, and it is becoming increasingly important that we take steps to save each and every full-grown tree. Peepal and Banyan trees have spiritual sentiments attached with them and I am more concerned for saving these species which grow on roadsides but are mercilessly cut down for developmental reasons,” Chowdhary says. He have been transplanting trees since 2002.The oldest tree that has been translocated successfully by the scientist was one at Gurgaon which was an 80-yr-old Peepal tree which weighed thousands of tons and had a very deep root network. “The entire cost of transplanting any tree depends on three factors - its age, weight and distance to be shifted. The older a tree is, larger is its weight and harder is it to treat its root anatomy. It may cost anywhere between Rs 5,000-Rs 2 lakh for trees to be treated, transplanted successfully to another place,” the scientist told TOI.Palm varieties are easy to shift while Neem and Sheesham trees with complex root anatomies are difficult to shift and have 80% survival chances after special post relocation care given for months, he says. Translocation work may take a day to a week depending on the species. Experts have to take into account physical conditions like climate, temperature, soil conditions for translocation. May-June in summers and February-March in winters are considered favourable months for the task. Chowdhary has sent a letter to the National Highways Authority of India offering his expertise in shifting of trees instead of cutting them down for road making projects in the country.“There should be a separate cell in NHAI for trees translocation and the issue should be dealt with utmost priority because its is directly related to ecology. It takes years for a tree to grow, not only human beings but birds and other living creatures depend on trees. People from other countries reach out to me for help but unfortunately, authorities here do not take it seriously. Chowdhary has worked for municipal bodies in Udaipur, Rajsamand and other places for relocation of trees in their areas.

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