Apr 15 2025 to Apr 15 2025 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Trees are vitally important from ecological, economic, and cultural perspectives. Their value as tools for understanding basic biological phenomena is immense. Capable of living for hundreds or even thousands of years, they provide a bridge to our past. And yet, we do not have meticulous records of our outstanding trees.

This talk celebrates India’s most remarkable trees that have stood witness to its vibrant history and become envoys of its culture. They may be gnarled, age-wizened patriarchs; champions and titans with record dimensions; gentle,wish-fulfilling giants; green monuments that remind us of historical events or personalities; or trees that evoke memories of gruesome deaths and dark punishments; or botanical oddities; among many others. Most of them are recognized by local communities, but are largely unknown outside the village, state, or region. Wherever they are, such outstanding trees are a priceless national resource, to be treasured and nurtured.

The talk provides a glimpse of such trees from across India, and makes a passionate plea for their better conservation and protection.

This session is part of the Let’s Talk Climate Change Talk series.

Speakers

S Natesh
Author, Botanist & Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Division Head, GoI
Dr. S. Natesh taught Botany at the University of Delhi for nearly a decade before joining the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, in 1984. At DBT, he headed several divisions, including Bioresources, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Environmental Biotechnology, Food Biotechnology, Aquaculture & Marine Biotechnology, Biotechnology for Societal Development, and International Collaboration. He was also the first Member-Secretary of the National Bioresource Development Board and edited DBT’s bimonthly newsletter, Biotech News.

His recent interests include tracking and mapping the heritage trees of India, as well as plants that have influenced history. His work on heritage trees has resulted in a book, Iconic Trees of India, recently published by Roli Books. The book has been prominently featured in all the major literature festivals across India, including Hortus – Calicut, Himalayan Echoes, Naini Tal, Bangalore Green Lit Fest, Bhopal Lit Fest, and Jaipur Lit Fest.

Dr. Natesh has travelled widely and led several biotech delegations abroad. He has served on the advisory boards of several institutions, agencies, and Ministries. Dr. Natesh received the Biospectrum Lifetime Achievement Award (2012) for his contribution to elevating the Indian Biosciences Sector. A new plant species, Aponogeton Nateshii, has been named in his honour (2015).

Harini Nagendra
Director, Research Centre and School of Climate Change & Sustainability, Azim Premji University
Harini Nagendra is a Professor at Azim Premji University, where she leads the School for Climate Change and Sustainability. Her research focuses on social-ecological transformations in cities and forests of South Asia. Prof. Nagendra received a 2013 Elinor Ostrom Senior Scholar award for her research and practice on urban commons. Her 2016 book Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present, and Future examines the implications of environmental change for cities of the global South. She is also the author of the best-selling The Bangalore Detectives Club historical mystery series, based in 1920s colonial Bangalore.