Ready to grow roots: Saplings from 17 countries await G20 leaders

Among the G20 member countries, saplings of Silver Tree (Neolitsea sericea) have been imported from South Korea; Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) from Saudi Arabia; Olive (Olea europaea) from Italy and Turkey; Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius) from South Africa; Winterlinde (Tilia Cordata) from Germany; Cockspur Coral (Erythrina crysta-galli) from Argentina; Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) from China and Japan; and Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) and Northern Black Wattle (Acacia auriculiformis) from Australia.

About a dozen Winterlinde saplings have been imported from Germany, while seven Olive plants have been imported from Turkey, five Real Yellowwood plants have been imported from South Africa and six Date Palm plants have also been imported from Saudi Arabia, it is learnt.

Among the invitee countries, saplings of Ghaf tree (Prosopis cineraria) have been brought from the UAE; Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) from Oman; Frangipani (Plumeria obtusa) from Mauritius; mango tree (Mangifera indica) from Bangladesh; African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) from Nigeria; Doum/Date Palm (Hyphaene thebaica/ Phoenix dactylifera) from Egypt; and Olive tree from Spain, it is learnt.

It is learnt that these saplings have been imported over the past two months and have now been kept at a post-entry quarantine facility at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa, New Delhi. From there, these saplings are scheduled to be dispatched to the plantation site, the exact location of which, sources said, is yet to be announced due to security reasons.

The G20 leaders are expected to plant the saplings on the concluding day of the summit on September 10.

It is learnt that the saplings will be planted by the leader of the country from where they have been imported. For the remaining leaders, the plants have been sourced locally.

For instance, Sycamore/Chinar (Platanus orientalis) plant has been sourced locally for the French President; Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) for Russia’s representative; Queen’s Crepe-myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) for the US President; Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) for the UK Prime Minister; Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) for Canada; Teak tree (Tectona Grandis) for Indonesia; and Fern tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia) for Brazil.

Banyan tree saplings have been sourced locally for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

For the international organisations, saplings of Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) has been sourced locally for the United Nations and Parijat (Nyctanthes arbortristis) for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Sources said the exercise for importing the saplings began in May-June this year when Ministry of External Affairs officials contacted the Ministry of Agriculture for identification of plants suitable for the agro-climatic conditions of Delhi.

 

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It is learnt that the idea of planting the native plants of G20 nations came from the Prime Minister, who suggested that the imported plant should have some religious, cultural or national significance in the source country. Thereafter, the G20 Summit Secretariat and Agriculture Ministry officials held several meetings to ensure that the saplings reach Delhi well ahead of the summit.

Indian missions in the G20 member and guest countries were also asked to co-ordinate with the respective countries to finalise the native plant species, based on their survivability in Delhi conditions. The source countries were asked to send at least 5-6 saplings (1-2 ft height) in soil-less medium by mid-July.

For instance, the saplings of the Ghaf , which was declared UAE’s national tree in 2008. “The Ghaf is a drought-tolerant tree, which can remain green even in harsh desert environments. It is essential for the survival of animal and plant species alike. The Ghaf is the national tree of the UAE as it is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE’s desert environment,” states the website of Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi.

“Ghaf trees can live for up to 120 years on average. A well-known example of the Ghaf is the 400-year-old ‘Tree of Life’ in Bahrain, which is still growing in the desert without any obvious sources of water,” it says.

It is learnt that six mango plants – Amrapali and Langra varieties – have also been imported from Bangladesh. This is significant as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh had on several occasions sent mangoes to Prime Minister Modi and other leaders in India.

Sources said the G20 Secretariat has engaged a private horticulture consultant for maintenance of the plantation.

Elaborating on the significance of the plants in the source countries, sources gave the example of the Olive tree, which is a symbol of peace and friendship dating back to ancient Greek mythology.