2024-01-11

In a collaborative venture between the Advanced Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ACESSD) at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) Kottayam and TIES, the campus boasts a total of 3731 trees. This innovative project is dedicated to labelling and documenting the diverse array of trees adorning the university grounds.

Led by a team of field officers, under the guidance of a plant taxonomist, a comprehensive survey of the entire campus was conducted on foot. Trees with a Girth at Breast Height (GBH) exceeding 20 centimeters were diligently counted, and their GPS locations were meticulously recorded. Leveraging the TIES Tree App—a mobile application designed to capture vital tree data, including common and scientific names, Malayalam names, and location coordinates—details for each tree were systematically documented.

Each board installed features both Malayalam and English names of the tree, its scientific name, and an embedded QR code. The QR code, when scanned, redirects to a dedicated page offering exhaustive information about the specific tree. Dr. C.T. Aravidakumar, the Vice Chancellor of MGU, inaugurated the program by unveiling the book titled "Trees of Mahatma Gandhi University." This initiative marks a significant leap toward digitalizing and preserving the rich arboreal diversity within the university campus.