Saving giant trees, temple ruins

Indian institute has taken up a gigantic task in Cambodia

The spectacular site of the historic Hindu temples in ruins being engulfed by monstrous trees brought Hollywood at the doorsteps of the ancient Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap province of Cambodia. Angelina Jolie starrer “Tomb Raiders” was shot at these sites in ruins dubbed as ‘Tree temples.’ The remarkable symbiosis existing between the natural
environs and built heritage presents a case of extraordinary coexistence of trees and monuments. But behind all the glitz lies the glum reality. Exotic trees, some as tall as 80 metres and are over a century old, stand weak and at a grave risk of deteriorating fast and falling much before their life span.

But there’s now hope. India’s premier forest research organisation located in Dehradun, the Forest Research Institute (FRI), is making sure that these exotic Speung trees continue to stand tall in their natural habitat, some towering atop these ancient temples and ruinous sites. A team of FRI experts from India is working on conserving these trees in faraway Cambodia. The exercise is a long-drawn process. The team is again slated to visit Ta Prohm temples in October this year.  As many as 36 such trees have been classified in the high-risk category. Thousands of international and local tourists visit Ta Prohm temple throughout the year because of the archaeological significance of the
location gelled with exotic tree flora.

Institute Director Dr S S Negi told Deccan Herald that at least 26 problem trees have been treated so far by the expert team of the FRI. The remaining trees are so tall that they require giant climbers to start work. “UNESCO too has expressed that Ta Prohm work is particularly challen­ging since saving the monument and saving it in its natural environs with trees that represent something unique in the world is of utmost significance,” he said.

Dr Negi said he hopes to make both temple and trees survive together for a much longer span of time.

So what’s ailing these gentle giant trees, some of them with a 13-metre girth at the base. Head of the Forest Pathology Division, FRI, Dr N S K Harsh, who is heading the mission, told Deccan Herald that  the trees suffer from stress, heart rot, basal rot, swollen bole, branch stubs, dead branches and top dying which was diagnosed after extensive pathological studies were carried out.

He said, “trees were found under stress at the site due to heavy tourist pressure, soil compaction, injuries due to exposed roots and stems, cavities in trees and exposed buttresses and basal rotting.”

A few trees have also been dangerously leaning and causing collapse of the walls and other structures under their weight at the temple site. Some trees were growing as epiphytes over other trees hampering there growth.

Dr Harsh said the situation had left tall heavy but weak trees susceptible to fungal decay and insect attack. Being a major tourist attraction has taken its toll.

Dr Harsh and Dr S Nautiyal, FRI’s Tree Physiologist in the team, maintained that a lot of damage has already been caused by tourists stepping on the exposed giant roots of the trees.

To arrest this problem, the Archeological Survey of India roped in the services of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Chennai.  The IIT supplied state-of-the art designs for various treatment modules, including metal prop designs, that are being erected to lift leaning tress and cover exposed roots.

So how did this deterioration take place over the decades? Simply explained, the seeds fell in the crevices of the structures and germinated, which then started growing their roots to the ground and interspersed with the stones of the nearby temple structures.

The roots then incr­eased in size causing cracks in the walls and collapse of the structures. There are 150 trees of 30 species in the temple complex.  The project is being supervised by an International Coordination Committee under the aegis of UNESCO. 

Historical significance

The Ta Prohm Temple, built by Jayavarman VII for his mother in 1186 AD, is
located close to the Angkor, 12 km from Siem Reap town. The region of Angkor was inscribed in the World Heritage list in 1992. The region is marked with splendid structures constructed by the Khmer rulers from the ninth to the 15th century. The famous temple of Angkor Vat, the royal city of Angkor, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Preah Kahn bring pride to this area. The temple was originally called “Rajvihara”, the royal temple, and later referred to as Ta Prohm (Ta- Ancestor and  Prohm -Brahma), which was rediscovered in 1858 by the French explorer Henri Mouhot.

FRI’s work so far

Negi said besides all pathological interventions and treatments that the trees needed, wooden structures like platforms, raised wooden walkways and bridges have been erected at many sections inside the temple premises to prevent tourists from trampling exposed roots and buttresses. The exposed roots of trees were covered with local soil in different sections. Periodic surface treatment with anti-fungal material is being carried out. Prop to support a dangerously leaning tree have been designed and placed to withstand swaying movement of the tree, he said. 

The Director revealed that  the ASI is also planning to undertake restoration of another archaeological site at Cambodia near Siem Reap known as Beng Mellea. “Here too, similar coexistence of trees and monuments is found and FRI will be important partner in ecology conservation,” he said.