Published in 2016, ‘Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent’ by Pranay Lal offers a journey through the natural history of the Indian subcontinent. This book stands out for its unique approach to explaining evolution and natural history in a manner that is both accessible and captivating to readers of all backgrounds. The book spans a wide range of topics, from micro to macro. Covering everything from ancient fossils to fish, diverse climates, and the animals that inhabit the Western ghats to the Deserts in the Indian subcontinent. 

The book uses the Earth Woman analogy. This imaginative concept reimagines the 4.6 billion-year-old Earth as a 46-year-old woman by astrophysicist Nigel Calder. Allowing readers to visualize the planet's evolution over a human lifespan, making the complex timeline of Earth's history more approachable. The highlights of the book include facts like the ferocious Rajasaurus, an Indian dinosaur possibly more formidable than the T. rex, and 70-million-year-old crocodile eggs discovered in Mumbai and Bengaluru having its unique climate due to a tectonic event that took place 88 million years ago.

Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent is a fascinating exploration of Earth's history, told through the lens of a region rich in natural heritage. If you are curious enough about the world around you, Pranay Lal's work is sure to enrich your understanding and appreciation of our planet. Living in Goa, this book makes me reflect on the climate and ecosystems around me. The awareness about natural heritage is essential for sustainability, making the book useful for understanding the environment around us. Join our channel Climate Woes for more climate-related insights.

Goa is a goldmine of biodiversity and trees are the crucial negotiators that tie these ecosystems together. As awareness increases about habitat loss and deforestation, people have taken the responsibility of hosting planting and re-wilding drives. The first step in this process is to identify and select plant species which are most effective and resource efficient for natural landscaping.

Here are popular, easy to source, and easy to plant species that are commonly found along Goa’s roads and within Goan homes.

AVENUE TREES

These trees are typically used for roadside planting owing to their large and extensive canopies that offer shade throughout the year. One often finds seasonal flowering trees chosen as avenue trees. However, fruiting varieties are typically avoided and are found mostly in private properties.

01 The Indian Laburnum

Cassia Fistula or The Indian Laburnum or Amaltas as it is locally called is a medium-sized deciduous tree. It is a sun loving tree that is known for its abundant and glorious yellow summer flowers. The tree is extensively found in Goa, especially along the roads of Panjim.

02 The Scholar’s Tree

The Scholar’s Tree or Satvin as it is locally called is a tall, evergreen tree with branches in whorls. The tree blooms in the winter with white, fragrant flowers that are found in clusters. The tree is found all over Goa and is also otherwise known as The Devil’s Tree.

HOME TREES

Goa’s incredible biodiversity is best experienced at home. Homeowners can choose to plant any native flowering or fruiting tree without worrying about extensive care or maintenance. Many of these trees are also found in Goa’s public gardens and are known to attract a wide variety of birds and butterflies. These trees also support a lot of insects and creepy crawlies. This post tells you how you can design to coexist with and celebrate Goa’s diverse flora and fauna.

03. The Frangipani Tree

Plumeria Rubra or Plumeria Obtusa or Frangipani or Champa as it is lovingly called is a tropical tree and is a residential favourite in Goa. The Champa shrub has a lovely sculptural form and requires little maintenance. The plant does not require too much water and can thrive in any well-drained soil. The flowers are fragrant, bloom throughout the year, and come in different colours.

04. The Traveller’s Palm

The Traveller’s Palm is a picturesque spreading tree that looks beautiful when used along compound walls and the site edges. The fan profile layers over and blurs the hard site edge while also creating privacy. The palm is water loving and retentive, making it a valuable landscape feature during Goa’s heavy monsoons.

Also read about the native trees of Goa here.

Find a detailed list of Goa’s native trees in this directory.

Read our blog post on Protecting the Western Ghats here.

Goa is a goldmine of biodiversity and native forests are the crucial negotiators that tie these ecosystems together. As awareness increases about habitat loss and deforestation, people have taken the responsibility of hosting planting and re-wilding drives. The first step in this process is to identify and select native plant species which are most effective and resource efficient for natural landscaping. Native trees offer huge short term and long term benefits:

• Native trees are well-adapted to the local climate, which means they will have the best chance at survival.

• Native trees prevent population decline of the local wildlife as the animals are not forced to shift into unfamiliar habitats.

• While non-native trees might not do well up against local pests, native trees often don’t have as many pest problems because they develop symbiotic relationships with other local species.

Here are 4 popular, easy to source, and easy to plant native species of Goa:

Terminalia Elliptica or The ‘Indian Laurel’ is the State tree of Goa. A few other names of this tree are Mati, Asna, Saj, or Crocodile Bark Tree.

Terminalia bellirica is a deciduous tree that grows upto 35 m in height. It is a sun loving tree that thrives in slightly moist soils. The fruit of the tree is often celebrated for its medicinal properties.

Pterocarpus marsupium, also known as Asann and Malabar kino is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 m (98 ft) tall. It is native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The beautiful yellow flowered tree however is currently on the list of threatened species due to dwindling numbers and needs to be revived.

Holoptelea integrifolia, also called The Indian Elm is a deciduous tree that grows upto 25m in height. It is often sourced for timber which makes cheap furniture and also used as firewood in rural parts. Its flowers, leaves and bark have medicinal uses.

Apart from this Goa has several indigenous fruit trees including jack fruit, tamarind, guava, pineapple, and kokum. While these are not advisable for highways, they are wonderfully suited for smaller city avenues, parks, city campuses, and most importantly individual residential plots.

A detailed list of Goa’s native trees can be found in this directory. These trees support a lot of insects and creepy crawlies. This post tells you how you can design to coexist with and celebrate Goa’s biodiversity.

Goa is listed among the 36 most important biodiversity hotspots in the worls. To know more about the ecological significance of this belt, you can read our blogpost on Protecting the Western Ghats here.