Wood Wide Web

Looking into some of the tree species in the British landscape, the ancient oaks have long been revered as supreme gods in the pantheons of different cultures from the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Slavs and Teutonic tribes. There are many folklores associated with these oaks. For instance, in Somerset in South West England, stand the two very ancient oaks of Gog and Magog. These were named after the last male and female giants to roam Britain. The trees are reputed to be the remnants of an oak-lined processional route up to the nearby Glastonbury Tor. Oak leaves’ connection with rainfall also survived in more recent folklore. There are a variety of similar rhymes about which tree’s leaves appeared first, such as the Irish saying:

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If the oak before the ash, 

Then we’ll only have a splash.

If the ash before the oak,

Then we’ll surely have a soak!

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On the other hand, India’s rich biodiversity is also under threat from climate change and devastating patterns of development. Of the many vulnerable, endangered and near-threatened species of trees in the forests of Maharashtra- one such is the Krishna Fig (Ficus Krishnae) One of the many stories associated with this rare tree is one of how it got its name. It is believed that in the beginning the leaves of the Krishna Fig were straight and did not have the cup shape. People say that once while Lord Krishna was stealing butter, he was caught red-handed by his mother and to escape the punishment he rolled the butter in the leaf of the Ficus Krishnae which gives it the curved shape. Such local folklores only convey how sacred some trees are but over time and generations, communities have lost touch with nature, and spiritual beliefs are no longer sufficient to ensure their survival in the face of assault from commercial interest. With declining numbers each year, animals and birds such as wild buffaloes, Asian elephants, tigers, sloth bears, sarus cranes and white- backed vulture have also become endangered in the area. 

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Devaji Ram Supada, a farmer from Gadchiroli district shares “Nowadays forests are becoming sparse due to forests fires and many species like Khair (Senegalia catechu), Amla (Indian Gooseberry or Phyllanthus emblica Linn), Baheda (Terminalia bellirica) and others are not spreading enough. Forest fires are destroying seeds and saplings making the forests sparse.”