A nearly two-decade-old peepal tree planted by Friends of Vrindavan (FoV) was rescued and replanted in Sunrakh Forest on Tuesday after it was uprooted near the Omaxe turn, opposite Rawalwasia Hotel in Vrindavan.
The incident came to the attention of Friends of Vrindavan in the morning when Amit Sharma Godhaniya, a volunteer of Friends of Vrindavan shared a video showing the fallen tree. The tree had collapsed after its root zone had been severely constrained by concretisation around its base.
Friends of Vrindavan immediately brought the matter to the attention of Shri Shailja Kant Mishra, Vice Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, Municipal Commissioner Aojasvi Raj and District Forest Officer Shri Shrikar Patel. It was decided that, rather than allowing the mature tree to be discarded, an attempt should be made to save it through transplantation.
The operation was completed the same evening in a joint effort by Friends of Vrindavan, Mathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. The fallen tree was carefully lifted, transported and replanted at Sunrakh Forest.
The tree, which had stood at the site for almost twenty years, is now being given a second opportunity to establish itself. While the survival of a mature transplanted tree depends on several factors, the resilience of the peepal species and proper aftercare may help it develop new roots and recover at its new location.
The incident once again draws attention to the damaging consequences of excessive concretisation around mature trees. Restricting the soil and root zone prevents trees from receiving adequate water and space for root development and can compromise their stability over time.
For Friends of Vrindavan, the rescue represents more than the transplantation of a single tree. It demonstrates the importance of protecting existing mature trees and ensuring that urban development does not come at the cost of Vrindavan’s natural heritage.
Saving a tree is not merely saving a tree. It preserves shade, life and nature for future generations. It should be noted that Friends of Vrindavan has planted thousands of trees across Vrindavan and nurtured them to maturity. The organisation has also played an important role in saving trees by replanting fallen trees wherever possible and, in several cases, protecting trees through legal interventions and advocacy.
