Patna/New Delhi, June 17 -- In a significant move toward preserving Bihar's ecological and cultural legacy, the Bihar Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through Bihar Biodiversity Board, has shortlisted 32 trees across five districts - Buxar, Aurangabad, Munger, Jamui, and Bhagalpur - for designation as Biodiversity Heritage Trees. A senior Bihar Government officer shared that among these, 28 trees are estimated to be over 100 years old, with most remarkable being the majestic Banyan tree in Madanpur block of Aurangabad near Gaya, believed to be approximately 500 years old.

Selection of tree was made from an initial list of over 1,500 trees following rigorous field verification through various sources including the chai...