Chennai: As part of its centenary celebrations, the State Forest Research Institute, located at Kolapakkam, near Chennai, launched its Forest Genetic Resources Tree Park at Kolapakkam.
Established by the institute that is part of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the taxonomically-designed tree park aims to protect existing forest genetic resources. It spans eight hectares with around 300 species brought in from the Western and Eastern Ghats.
The tree park was inaugurated this morning by Forest Minister Dindigul Srinivasn in the presence of Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and Rural Industries Minister P Benjamin.
The tree park, located adjacent to Arignar Anna Zoological Park on the Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, will be a learning centre the for public.
Apart from protecting the genetic resources of the 300 tree species, the tree park will also act as a paradise for botanists and a retreat for nature lovers.
Late chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, promised during her tenure in 2016, the tree park and work took place during 2017-2018.
Apart from the concept of conserving 300 trees, the park also has waterscaping, landscaping, rock garden, birds tree, butterfly garden and children’s garden.
Their other features include arboretum (a botanical collection exclusively of trees), bamboos, palms, lawns, hedges, avenue trees, flower walk garden, medicinal garden, water lily and lotus plants.
The Forest Genetic Resources Tree Park has an interpretation centre, rest sheds for visitors, water cascades, micro irrigation, water conservation structures with check dams, island and conservatory.
Some of the important and quite common tree species that one can find in this park would be : sandhanam (Santalum album), thekku (Teak) (Tectona grandis), etti (Strychnos nux-vomica), karuvembu (Garuga pinnata), Ashokam (Saraca indica), etc.
The tree park is designed in such a way that rainwater flowing from Vandalur hill will be channelised through canals for the park’s use. Four check-dams have been laid to store the water.
Forest and Environment Principal Secretary, Mohammed Nizamuddin, Chief Conservator of Forests, Ravikanth Upadhyaya, Kanchiuram Collector P Ponnaiyan participated.
(Photos by C Santhosh)