Birchbark was used as paper by humans thousands years back and it now needs our protection.
With the onset of autumn most of the greenery turns into golden in Kashmir valley. The leaves of Chinar turn red in this season. Similarly, before fall, the leaves of other common trees too change colors, giving amazing look in the cities and countryside. Like Chinar, the Canadian and Japanese maple trees, planted in some public gardens and private parkland here, also change their colors.Like other seasons autumn brings joy to the nature lovers. It is in fact season of colors and the people are seen sharing pictures, writing comments and celebrating it on social media throughout the vale.While the leaves of arare tree called Birch turns yellow, giving the area dominating golden look and thus gives great aesthetic pleasure to nature lovers in this season.
Birch is considered one of the oldest living trees in the world.It is called BURZA KOL in Kashmiri and BOJA-PATRI in Hindustani. Historically, Birch was the most important tree to many indigenous people around the world. This tree is found in Kashmir on higher reaches from 9,500ft to about 11,500 ft. It is last tree below snowline. Birch is in fact a shy tree as it lives on high altitude away from human crowd. One could also find them amidst of evergreen pine forests. Birch lives fiercely against all odds. It is flexible but a very strong tree and sustains all pressures and pushes of slipping snow and sliding moraines on steep hilly slopes. On steep slopes it bends its trunk and grows in “L” shaped position. We have Birch in abundance in Kashmir at Thajewas, Dhumail,Lachpatri, Sonamarg, Salnai, Khilanmarg, Gurez and many other places in the state.
Birch bark is characteristically marked with long, horizontal lenticels, and often separates into thin, papery plates. It is resistant to decay, due to the resinous oil it contains and is well durable. It has been useful to mankind for thousands of years. Probably the most well know use of Birch is its use in making paper. It was primary writing medium and oldest books and manuscripts were written on its bark in ancient times.
The birch bark is water proof. The people made boats of it which increased the efficiency of mobility in water bodies. Canoes have been a part of cultures around the world for hundreds of years.In Kashmir the Birch holds great historical significance in our culture where the thin bark coming off in winter was extensively used for different developmental purposes. Till some decades back people in Srinagar laid it under the mud roof to waterproof their rooftops. In remote rural areas it is still used for water proofing the mud roofs. One can find Gujars still using it for their Kothas.In addition to its use for shelters, paper and canoes, birchbark was used for making buckets to carry water, food storage containers, baskets, plates, hand fans, funnels, and snow shoes etc. in ancient times. The wood being hard and highly flammable made great firewood, as well as torches and tinder. Birch has certainly helped human being to improve the quality of life by using its bark for domestic use and it now needs our protection.
Birchsaphas amazing medicinal properties.The oil from the inner bark can be used to treat wounds, while outer bark has antibacterial properties. Like the maple tree people extract its sweet juice that has medicinal properties
Birch is an important and integral part of our culture. Surprisingly it is national tree of Finland butto our dismay ithas no importance attached to it in our state. Forest Deptt gives more importance to evergreen pine trees than Birch.It has been living with us on our hillsides for thousands of years. The existence of this tree is facing threat now.The main factors endangering its existence are raising air pollution, frequent avalanches and landslides.There is need to organize massive awareness programs among masses about its preservation, particularly among those who migrate to higher reaches during summer months for grazing their cattle.The people migrating to higher reaches during summer months indiscriminately damage it either by removing its inner layers of bark to make rooftops, or using it as firewood. The mountaineers and trekkers often come in contact with Birch while undertaking any outdoor pursuit. They make their efforts to aware the nomads and shepherds about its preservation. The Social Forestry needs to go for massive plantation of this dying tree. The INTACH on the other side should also come forward and make efforts to protect this historical tree. Unlike Chinar it also needs to be recognized as our cultural heritage by INTACH.
Those Educational Institutions who send their students for excursions, picnics or hiking to these places should educate their students about this unique tree. The accompanying teachers must tell them stories of Birch. Appreciably few weeks back a renowned naturalist and tree lover Shri O.P Sharma organized a tree talk at Environment Park, Kijpora, Kangana long with this writer in association with J&K Ski & Mountaineering Association for nearly 40 students of Kashmir International School, Burzala, Srinagar. This special talk was dedicated to Birch. Among others Mr. Nazir Ahmad Nazir, Naturalist, Mr. Obaid Yousuf, MD- Adventure Call Tour and Travels and Mr. Hakeem Mohammad Yousuf, CEO- Kashmir Adventures also talked to students about this ancient tree. All of them stressed the need to find ways and means to protect this endangered tree. The speakers expressed their desire that a Birch Nursery is created in the state and massive plantation of Birch be undertaken by Forest, Environment and Social Forestry Departments.
Amazingly the forest compartments, where we have birch in larger numbers,give a golden look in autumn and mesmerizes the nature lovers. In order to encourage nature appreciation among masses some Government Departments often hold Rose Shows and Festivals on Tulip, Saffron, Chinar, Almonds and Apricots etc. in J&K State but unfortunately no attention is focused on historical Birch. There is need to dedicate one such festival on magnificent Birch in autumn. If explored and exploited well there is possibility it could become a Rural Tourism product in lean autumn. It will certainly help attract scores of tourists and naturalists to those places.
The Forest, Environment, Parks and Garden and Tourism Departments should jointly organize one such Festival annually under the name and style “Celebrating Golden Kashmir”. Different activities like nature photography and painting, mountain biking, short treks in Birch compartments, pahari cultural program, Birch climbing, awareness programs, essay writing on birchbark, sensor of birch trees, plantation and other related mountain sports activities could be conducted during the proposed festivals. All the conscious citizens should contribute in celebrating the BIRCH in a big way.
Muhammad Yusuf
(The author is Director, Adventure Cal Tour and Travels and former Adventure Sports Coach Kashmir University)
