3rd INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH

Abstract

Asian Palmyra palm (Borassus Flabellifer), a gigantic fan-shaped tree that spreads out to large areas, mainly in South Asian countries such as Tamilnadu and Kerala, northern regions of Srilanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia is an important tree that contributes a lot to biodiversity and sustainability. From ancient times, it has been widely discussed and praised in Tamil classical Sangam literature, which has discussed 801 uses of Palmyra palm (Tala Vilasam). Palmyraculture (in Tamil, Panaiyaanmai) is the self-reliant community living and lifestyle based on Asian palmyra palm towards sustainable development. From ‘Palmyraculture’ we can promote Sustainable Development through three main pillars: Environment, Economic, and Social. In terms of Environmental Sustainability, Palmyra acts as the main breeding and nesting site for various epiphytes, reptiles, birds and plants and also, it is a natural rainwater harvesting system that stores up water and can turn an arid region into a fertile one. Recent research done on plantations of Tamarind, Pineapple, Cashew, Portia and Neem with young palmyra plants showed that the plants near the palm did not need to be watered in intervals since, the palmyra was the major provider of water, and nutrients. Similarly, its leaves provided shade for plants around its vicinity. Due to its immense ability to nurture plants and animals, it is often mentioned as a “keystone species''. In addition, it is also known as “a multi-purpose tree with a great utility because of its wide varieties of commercial uses it has from both its edible parts such as jaggery, sap, toffee, wine, sugar and from non-edible products such as leaves, trunk, tuber coat to make mats, baskets, coir, toys, house construction. In addition to this, Palmyra toddy, a nutritious drink, has gained special attention recently due to its ban in Tamilnadu. When branded alcohol takes months and years to ferment, toddy just takes some days to make a healthy drink unlike the prior. However, overall products from palmyra contribute significantly to the GDP of a country and also in attaining Economic sustainability that can create a huge impact in the lives of rural communities. Social Sustainability is another key parameter in SDG that can be obtained by depending on the Palmyra tree for nutritious food, shelter and cultural activities. With these parameters, palmyra palm attains a maximum number of SDG goals that directly or indirectly play a major role in attaining equilibrium between present needs and the demand of future generations. Asian Palmyra palm can also be called as “a tree of life” that provides us with all the basic things needed for the survival of humankind on the earth, that includes air, water, food, medicine, shelter, clothing, energy, education, innovation, employment, sports and games, aestheticism, biodiversity and ecosystem development, green economy, and spiritual enlightenment. This paper will cover the wide aspects of how the palmyra tree balances the three pillars of Sustainable Development and its importance towards bringing in sustainability by comparing its services through SDG’s.