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Mahavriksha Puraskar

... that Mahavriksha Puraskar is an annual award given to owners of selected large healthy trees in India to create public awareness about the importance of conserving fine specimens of trees?

Mahavriksha Puraskar

1994 Mahavriksha Puraskar awardee, Kannimara teak at Parambiculam Wildlife Sanctuary

The Mahavriksha Puraskar (Giant Tree Award) is an annual award given by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), to recognize individuals and organisations for having trees of the notified species on the basis of girth, height, health and vigour of the trees. The award is given for preserving and protecting trees having largest girth and height and having good health and vigour. It creates public awareness about the importance of conserving fine specimens of various tree species in India.

Award

The award was instituted during 1993–94. A roaster of notified tree species, which was valid for five years, was prepared in 1993 when the award was instituted. The number of awards depends on the number of tree species notified every year. Nominations must conform to the minimum standards of girth at breast height in respect of species notified. The award consists of a prize of Rs.25,000/- and a citation. The prize includes a plaque inscribed with the statistics of the prize winning specimen and is installed near the specimen. The award is presented in a function organized for the purpose.

All prize winning specimens are photographically and descriptively catalogued. The concerned Forest Department monitors prize winning specimens in subsequent years. A Selection Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) screens the applications and shortlists the nominations in each category. The committee specifies the procedure for verification of the shortlisted nominations and makes the final selection. The award expenses are met out of the budget provision for 'Communication' of the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board of the MOEF.

Proforma

Applications must be submitted in the prescribed form complete in all respects. Botanical Gardens are not eligible for participation. Applications are submitted to the District Forest Officer (DFO) who verifies the entries and submits his report to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). The PCCF forwards the applications to Ministry of Environment & Forests after proper scrutiny and certifying report of DFO.

Full information to be included in application includes the following:

• Name of Applicant: ... (in capitals); Address: ...; Status: ... (Individual/Village Panchayat/Municipality Dept. or Institution)
• Name of the tree species: ... (Out of notified list); Location of the tree: ...; Ownership of land on which tree exists: ... (Supporting documents to be attached)
• Particulars of the tree: Girth at breast height:... (Metres); Height: ... (Metres); Approximate age: ...; General health & vigour: ... (brief description about the tree,including straightness of the main stem, crown spread, freedom from insects and diseases etc.) A photograph of the tree should be enclosed.
• Field Verification by the Divisional Forest Officer:... (Signature with seal); Remarks of PCCF: ...

Awardees

Awards for 1994-97 were presented to the awardees on March 16, 2000 by Hon'ble Shri K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission.

Mahavriksha Puraskar Awardees:

• 1994

1. Tectona grandis (Teak) : Wild Life Division, Parambikulam, Forest Department, Kerala. This first award was given for the Kannimara teak. This tree is 450 years old, 48.5 metres (159 ft) in height and convert|6.57|m}} in girth and is worshiped by the tribal people.

2. Cedrus deodara (Deodar) : Tons Forest Division, Purola, Distt. Uttar Kashi, Uttar Pradesh

3. Azadirachta indica (Neem) : Gram Panchayat - Lunva, Post Lunva, Ta-Kheralu, Distt. Mehsana, Gujarat

• 1995

1. Eucalyptus grandis (Eucalyptus) : Chittoor Forest (West) Division, Andhra Pradesh

2. Tamarindus indica (Imli) : Shri Kulusika Sanu, Vill. Murdiguda, Plot No.16, Khata No.12, PO Narayan Patna, Distt. [[Rayagada District, Orissa

3. Michelia champaca (Champa, Champ) : President, Vill. Council Bukpui, Vill & PO Bukpui, North Mizoram

4. Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham) : Ramban Forest Division, Distt. Doda District, Jammu & Kashmir

5. Fraxinus floribunda (Angu) : Tons Forest Division, Purola District, Uttarkashi, Uttar Pradesh

• 1996

1. Dipterocarpus macrocarpus (Hollong) : To Field Director, Project Tiger, Namdapha, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh for preserving the finest specimens of this tree.

2. Mitragyana parviflora (Phaldu) : Shri Ashok Kumar Mohite, Officer, Chhatri Trust, Chhatri Road, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh

3. Terminalia belerica (Behera) : Mohammadi Range, PO Maheshpur, Kheri District, Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh

• 1997

1. Emblica officinalis (Amla) : Dhaiben Ravjibhai, Maganbhai Patel, Juna Chora, Uttarsanda, Kheda District, Gujarat

2. Cedrela toona (Toon) : Gram Panchayat Parkoti, PO Sirkot, Janpad Bageshwar, Uttar Pradesh

3. Bombax malabaricum (Semal) : Madikeri Forest Division, Karnataka

4. Mimusops elengi (Maulsari) : Datta Mahabaleshwar Desai, Nujji Malki, Sy. No. 19, Dudagali Majire, Karnataka

Local legend of Kannimaram, the award winning tree

There is local tribal legend attributed to the Kannimaram Teak (Tectona grandis) tree, which was awarded the Mahavriksha Puraskar in 1994. Tribals of the area believe that when the tree was axed it started oozing blood from the location of the cut. From then on it is being worshiped as a "Sacred Virgin Tree" and the name "Kanimaram" is also suggestive of this belief. Kannimaram is a compound word, which is formed of ‘Kanni’ which means “Virgin” and ‘maram’ means “tree”. It is one of the biggest natural teak trees in the world that has a girth of 6.57 metres (21.6 ft), height of 48.5 metres (159 ft) and dated as more than 450 years old.

References