CONTENTS S.No Title Page No 1 Executive Summary 1 2 Introduction 2 3 Methodology 3 4 Results 5 5 Recommendations 13 6 Acknowledgments 15 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report describes the survey conducted by the survey teams on all managed trees on PSG CAS main campus in Coimbatore during the month of July 2019. Data collection was mainly focused on species location, identification, and measurement of the diameter at breast height (dbh) of all trees in the survey area. The report describes the site and the methodology used for data collection and presents the data and preliminary analysis, discussing the campus as a whole. A total of 3456 trees have been identified. The family Fabaceae being dominant, followed by Arecaceae, Malvaceae and Bignoniaceae. Swietenia macrophylla and Tectona grandis make up more than 1/3rd of the total population while Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Pongamia pinnata were the next major composition. The diameter of all the trees was found to be approximately 580 sq. meters. The photos, graphics, and observations presented here are just a sample of what can be drawn from the data collected. This kind of data is required for effective stewardship. The report ends with a brief discussion of recommendations, which address both the trees rising from PSG CAS grounds. Establishing relationships and responsibilities among the campus managers, teachers, researchers and students can help the campus forest reach its fullest potential. The forest in the campus is ever changing; trees grow, fall, and die. New construction transforms old gardens and planting newer varieties bring new life to the scene. A tree survey is, always imperfect and incomplete. Nonetheless, this survey offers a foundational snapshot of PSG CAS campus, from which managers can make more detailed analysis, anticipate the future of the campus forest, and craft management decisions designed to meet a variety of objectives. 1 INTRODUCTION Green audits are tools that companies and other organizations use to identify or define their full range of environmental impacts and assess their operations’ compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as with the expectations of their various stakeholders. Green Campus is an environment which improves energy efficiency, conserving resources and enhancing environmental quality by educating for sustainability and creating healthy, living and learning environments. It rewards long term commitment to continuous environmental improvement from the campus community. Green colleges make a point to account for sustainable living when designing and operating their buildings. Many of their facilities incorporate natural lighting, improve air quality, and reduce energy and water use. Trees play an important ecological role within the urban environment, as well as support improved public health and provide aesthetic benefits to cities. It is essential to plan where the trees are planted and to plan their ongoing maintenance in order to maximize future benefits and to ensure long-term tree survival and growth. Trees in a college yard improve air quality and can reduce temperatures with their cool shade. They are a small environmental investment that will pay dividends for decades to come. In one year, a single mature tree will absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release it as oxygen. They have an impact on our mental health and studies have shown that trees greatly reduce stress. The tree census is an important scientific, technical, and educational effort. The results enable us to characterize the tree population in terms of its structure, function, and value. The objectives of the present survey are: To make a document of tree individuals and tree species of PSG College of Arts & Science. To undertake analysis of tree abundance. To enumerate importance of the tree species/individuals observed. 2 METHODOLOGY AREA OF SURVEY The Campus Tree Survey (CTS) is a census. In the present survey, “Census” was used as sampling technique. The census technique is specifically used to collect accurate information of the population. The data collection was done from all locations containing population which aims to identify, measure, and locate all trees in areas under active management across the site. Data collection for individual tree was conducted by students of the Department of Botany, PSGCAS during July 2019. Identification of Tree species Most of the tree species encountered were identified on field on the basis of their morphological characters - bark shape, texture, and colour, leaves-shape, size, texture, colour, arrangement, flower and fruit colour, shape, size, internal morphology, odour and arrangement of reproductive features. Morphological characteristics were used to identify the tree species to the species level. Presidency of Madras was used as references and online database of The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) was used to find out the latest and acceptable international scientific name of the tree species. Some of the Tree species that could not be identified on field were collected or photographed for off-field analysis with officials from Botanical Survey of India. 3 Measurement of tree diameter Diameter at breast height, or DBH, is the standard for measuring trees. DBH refers to the tree diameter measured at 4.5 feet above the ground. DBH is measured quickly with a specially calibrated diameter tape or a d-tape, that displays the diameter measurement when wrapped around the circumference of a tree. The tree is measured 4.5 feet up from the ground. Care has been taken to make sure the tape is straight and tight around the trunk. The circumference measured is then converted to diameter by dividing the circumference by pi (3.14). When the trunk is at an angle or is on a slope, the trunk is measured at right angles to the trunk 4.5 feet along the center of the trunk axis, so the height is the average of the shortest and the longest sides of the trunk. When the trunk branches or splits less than 4.5 feet from the ground, the smallest circumference below the lowest branch is measured. For multi- stemmed trees, the size is determined by measuring all the trunks, and then adding the total diameter of the largest trunk to one-half the diameter of each additional trunk. Stems less than 4 inches were excluded. 4 RESULTS PSG CAS campus hosts an inspiring diversity of tree species and ages. The survey shows about 39 families. Fig. 1 shows families at least 2 genus. There are around 91 species from at least 81 different genera. In the midst of this diversity, family Fabaceae being dominant, followed by Arecaceae, Malvaceae and Bignoniaceae. Figure 1: Families observed in the PSG CAS campus. Swietenia macrophylla and Tectona grandis alone make up more than 1/3 of the total population (Fig. 2) while Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Pongamia pinnata being the next major contributors. The diameter of the total trees was found to be 57823 cm which is approx. 580 sq. meters. The top eleven dominant genera by mass alone account for 80% in PSGCAS campus (Fig. 2). 5 Figure 2: Tree Counts of Top Eleven Genera PSG CAS campus host trees of varying sizes like any forest, has developed over time. The survey reflects biodiversity, variation in site conditions, and tree age. Few species, such as Tecoma stans, remain smaller; while others, such as teak and neem, have the potential to reach impressive stature. As most campus trees are open-grown and not competing directly with other trees. Size can be used as a proxy for relative age within a species. Assuming similar site conditions, larger teaks are older teaks; larger neems are older neems. The campus is home to a great number of smaller diameter trees that have the potential to reach massive size. 6 Index of trees, binomial names family, vernacular names and common names S.NO BINOMIAL NAME FAMILY VERNACULAR COMMON TOTAL % TOTAL DIAMETER NAME NAME NO COUNT (in cm) 1 Acacia auriculiformis Benth. Fabaceae Kathi Savuku Earpod wattle 6 0.17 228.98 2 Acacia dealbata Wild Fabaceae Wattle 4 0.12 111.78 Silver green wattle 3 Adenanthera pavonina L. Fabaceae Anikundumani Peacock wood 6 0.17 129.62 4 Aegle marmelos Corr. Rutaceae Vilvam Golden apple 1 0.03 3.82 5 Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Simaroubaceae Peru maram Baked sewage tree 30 0.87 642.04 Tree of heaven 6 Albizia amara Boiv. Fabaceae Arappu, Wunja Wheel Tree 3 0.09 21.66 Wonja Shekaram Oonjal 7 Albizia lebbeck Benth. Fabaceae Vagai Woman's tongue 8 0.23 195.86 tree 8 Araucaria columnaris Araucariaceae Christmas tree Monkey puzzle 5 0.14 28.34 J.R.Forst. Hook. 9 Areca catechu L. Arecaceae Paakku Betel nut 6 0.17 63.06 10 Artabotrys odoratissimus R. Br. Annonaceae Manoranjitham Manorangini ex Ker-Gawl. 1 0.03 9.55 11 Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Vembu Neem 463 13.40 13879.62 12 Bambusa arundinacea Wild. Poaceae Moonkil Indian thorny 30 0.87 260.19 Bamboo 13 Bauhinia variegata L. Fabaceae Segapu-Manthaarai/ Buddhist Bauhinia 18 0.52 213.69 Sem manthaarai 14 Bismarckia nobilis Arecaceae Bismark palm Silver Bismark 3 0.09 100.64 Hildebr. & H. Wendl. Palm 7 15 Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. Burseraceae Chakah Gumbo-limbo 1 0.03 12.74 16 Calliandra haematocephala Fabaceae Exotic – Not Red Powder Puff 1 0.03 4.78 Hassk.. specified 17 Callistemon citrinus L. Myrtaceae Exotic – Not Crimpson Bottle 2 0.06 11.78 specified brushes 18 Campsis radicans Seem. Bignoniaceae Exotic – Not Trumpet vine 2 0.06 16.56 specified 19 Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Pappali Papaya 8 0.23 50.32 20 Caryota mitis L. Arecaceae Exotic – Not Fishtail palms 17 0.49 241.72 specified 21 Caryota obtusa Griff. Arecaceae Exotic – Not Giant fishtail palm 5 0.14 99.68 specified 22 Cassia fistula L.