India, March 27 -- Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has identified 1,752 heritage trees in its jurisdiction for conservation amidst the fast-paced development in the region. The protected trees are primarily of various local species.

A tree that is over 50 years of age is designated as a heritage tree as per the decision of the state Cabinet, which in June 2021, approved the amendment under Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act 1975. Any action concerning the cutting of such trees requires special permission from the State Tree Authority, along with fulfilment of compulsory requirements like compensatory afforestation or high compensation amount.

A tree census conducted by PMC earlier had recorded 6,77,923...