HERITAGE TREES

June 12, 2021

The Maharashtra government will make amendments to the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act of 1975, to introduce provisions for the protection of ‘heritage trees’.

About:

  • Under the proposed amendment, a tree with an estimated age of 50 years or more shall be defined as a heritage tree.

  • It may belong to specific species, which will be notified from time to time.

  • In addition to the age, the state climate change department (which will be implementing the Tree Act), will also consider a tree’s rarity, its botanical, historical, religious, mythological and cultural importance in defining a heritage tree.

  • The local Tree Authority will have to ensure tree census to be carried out every five years along with counting of heritage trees.