In recent years, Asia's largest botanical garden, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah's Shibpur, has stood as a testament to resilience in the face of natural calamities, particularly cyclones. This sprawling sanctuary, overseen by the Botanical Survey of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has been grappling with the aftermath of increasingly frequent cyclonic storms, which have uprooted thousands of trees, including some that are centuries old.
The turning point came in 2000 with supercyclone Amphan, which devastated the region and uprooted nearly 2,000 trees within the garden. Among the casualties was the iconic banyan tree, a national treasure, which suffered extensive damage across its vast expanse. Subsequent cyclones like Yash in 2021 and Remal in 2024 further underscored the vulnerability of this lush expanse to nature's fury.
Dr. Devendra Singh, Joint Director of the Botanic Garden, recalls how Cyclone Amphan served as a catalyst for change. The garden's officials embarked on a journey to revive the uprooted flora, employing sophisticated replanting techniques. Teams were equipped with cranes and earthmovers, meticulously replanting both large and small trees that had fallen victim to the cyclones. Techniques such as trimming branches and reducing canopy weight were adopted to enhance the survival rate of replanted trees.
The garden's resilience strategy includes proactive measures to mitigate future damage. The high water table in the region, while aiding in the revival of uprooted trees by retaining root systems, also poses challenges due to shallow roots vulnerable to cyclonic winds. To counter this, officials are considering raising ground levels by 2 to 3 feet and regularly trimming trees to balance their weight distribution, thus fortifying them against cyclonic forces.
Beyond mere restoration, the garden has embarked on an ambitious mission to enrich its biodiversity. Over 8,000 new plants from diverse regions, including the eastern and western Himalayas, have been introduced. This effort not only aims to replace lost greenery but also to enhance the garden's allure with rare and endangered flora.
As cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal continues to intensify, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden remains a beacon of hope and resilience. Its journey to recover from devastating cyclones stands as a testament to human ingenuity in safeguarding our natural heritage against the forces of nature.
