India turns to geo-tagging to conserve Kashmir's iconic 'Chinar' trees

SRINAGAR, India, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Authorities in Indian Kashmir are geo-tagging thousands of 'Chinar' trees to create a comprehensive database for their management and help conserve them amid threats from rising urbanisation, road-widening projects and diseases.

The trees are a cultural and ecological symbol of the restive northern territory, which is claimed in full by India and Pakistan and ruled in part by both, but hundreds of them have been lost over the last few decades.

Under the geo-tagging process, QR codes are attached to each surveyed tree, recording information about 25 characteristics, including its geographical location, health, age, and growing patterns, enabling conservationists to track changes and address risk factors.

The public can also scan ...
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