November saw great fluctuations in the weather all across India. Yet, people stepped out and documented trees. What do these observations tell us? And who made the most observations in this tree festival? Read on to find out!
Overview
The November tree festival gathered an incredible 9,873 observations from 22 states and Union Territories. Here’s the distribution of these observations –
Kerala is on the top again with 7,927 observations. The second highest observations (798) came from a surprising candidate – Madhya Pradesh! This is followed by Gujarat (295), Maharashtra (228) and Karnataka (133) in the top 5. Tree observations from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand are especially mentionable. Thank you, tree lovers!
Out of the 9873 observations, 5,663 are casual, one-time observations and 4210 are observations noted on the regular trees. These observations were made on 156 of the 171 SeasonWatch tree species. Mango (all varieties) maintains its top position this time too! Drumstick tree, Neem and Indian Almond make it to the top 5 owing to one of the festival challenges, along with Jackfruit, the usual favourite. Here are the top 10 species of the festival –
Festival highlights
Tree-watchers shared their unusual observations, like the flowering of the Indian Laburnum trees from Mumbai.
Unusual flowering of the Indian Laburnum tree from Mumbai, shared by Sananda Mukho
Pratiksha Kothule from Nashik took people out of their busy year-end schedule for a tree walk in Nashik. This was her first tree walk and we look forward to many more to come!
Sayee Girdhari took the FLAME University, Pune students on a tree walk at the Empress Botanical Garden. On the last day of the tree festival, Rupa Rahul Bajaj Centre for Environment and Art organized their monthly tree walk. It was graced by curious children and enthusiastic parents of (organization) along with other participants.
Festival Challenges
Like the November Tree Festival 2023, this festival, too, had two challenges for the SeasonWatchers – ‘100-not-out’ and ‘Never before November’. Here’s how the participants fared with these challenges –
100-not-out
The challenge entails adding at least 100 observations per week of the festival. Participants uploading more than 200 observations stand a chance to be the winners of this challenge. Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) – Anjaniya (SHT Mandla), Dr P U Priyanka, and K S Lyla completed the challenge with more than 200 observations. Aravind added more than 100 observations.
Bravo!
Winners
FES Anjaniya (SHT Mandla) with an astounding 605 observations win the 100-not-out challenge in the ‘individual’ category. Catholicate H. S. S. Pathanamthitta takes the prize in the ‘school’ category with a whopping 1324 observations!
Congratulations!
Never-before-November
This challenge was to add observations on 5 common but lesser observed tree species around us – Devil’s Tree (Alstonia scholaris), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Mast Tree (Monoon longifolium), Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera) and the Indian Almond Tree (Terminalia catappa).
The challenge was a success this year as well with 3,110 observations on all 5 species from all over India. Drumstick is the most observed species with 973 observations, followed by Neem (744), Indian Almond (634), Devil’s Tree (387) and Mast Tree (372).
157 individuals, schools and colleges participated in this challenge. Of these, 16 participants added observations on all 5 of the challenge species.
Tree Phenology
We know trees have old leaves during the dry seasons, starting at this time of the year, as do our Never-before species. So, we looked at the old leaves of these 5 species. The data from November 2023 showed that 62.34% of the observed trees had old leaves. In November 2024, it is 64.82%. Here’s what this data looks like on a map –
Winners
V. V. H. S. S. Thamarakulam is the winner of this challenge, with 737 observations on all 5 species. Dr P. U. Priyanka takes the prize home with 402 observations.
Congratulations!
Contributors
SeasonWatch team deeply appreciates the efforts of every contributor of the festival and thanks everyone for stepping out this season and observing trees with us. Thank you for making another one of our tree festivals a grand success.
Individuals (75)
Achuthanand (1), Adnan (1), Ahilya Jaiswal (1), Aksha (1), Anand Shankar (2), Anay (1), ANET (61), Anu Paul (1), Aravind (101), Arulsaranya (51), Ashwin Subramanian (2), Atish Urkude (1), Avanish (1), Avishkar (10),
Bharti Shukla (1),
Devananda Rajeev (40), Dharitri Swain (4), Divinajijil (2), Dr P U Priyanka (402),
FES (10), FES Anjaniya (SHT Mandla) (605), FES Bichhiya (SHT Mandla) (98), FES Niwas (SHT Mandla) (15), FES-Mandla (15),
G Neethushree Nair (1), Geetha Ramaswami (39), Goutham (1),
Hannah (1), Hari Haran P (7), Harsh (1), Himanshu Lad (32),
Ila S (4),
Jharana (4),
K.S Lyla (355), Karthikeyan A (1), Krishnajith (10),
Lekali (11),
Manali Baburao Rane (3), Manikandan (7), Manoj Poosam (2),
Nandlal Singh (1), Nidhi (2), Niranjan Prajapati (1), Nirjesh (28), Nivedhya Subash (70),
P S Baiju (6), P. Chitralekha (68), P. Rajangam (2), Prabha K (3), Prabhakaran PV(8), Pratiksha Kothule (11), Pushkar Gaikwad (10),
Rajesh Kumar Sahu (1), Ramana Kumar Kandula (8), Ramnaresh Barman (1),
Sarta (5), Sayak Dolai (14), Sayee Girdhari (134), Season watch WWF_Mungeli (1), Shivraj Dhumketi (8), Shreyas R (1), Shruti Singh (1), Sindhuja Sarasram (1), Snehal Neel (2), Sonali Kadam (12), Sonu kumar (2), Sparsh (2), Suhel Quader (24),
Tapas Das (1), Theertha Pradeep (3), Thryambak Sha (6),
Vandana Panda (1), Vasireddy Arun (39), Veda S Nair (5),
Younus Baniya (1)
Schools (145)
A. K. G. M. G. H. S. S. Pinarayi – Kannur (395), A. M. M. H. S. S. Edayaranmula (4), A. M. U. P. S. Akode Virippadam (46), A. M. U. P. S. Kooriyad (5), A. V. H. S. S. (6), Alangad Jama-ath Public School (349), Amrita Vidyalayam (18), Archbishop Attipetty Public School (11), Assumption A. U. P. School Bathery (2), Ayanikkad West U. P. School (2),
Bemannur G. U. P. S. Paruthippulli (153), Bharath English Medium U. P. School Poinachi (9), Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Vikas Vidyalaya (2), Bhavans Adarsha Vidyalaya Eranakulam (3),
C. A. H. S. S. Coyalmannam (2), C. H. S. S. (8), C. K. C. H. S. Ponnurunni (11), C. M. S. College H. S. S. Kottayam (8), C. M. S. L. P. S. Pallom (27), Carmel Residential Senior Secondary School (25), Catholicate H. S. S. Pathanamthita (1324), Chattrasal Govt PG College Panna (1), Chinmaya Vidyalaya (1), Christujyothi Public School Rajakkad (113),
Devanandha S. (11), Divine Public School Puthoor (4),
Elamkavu Vidyamandir (21), Eriam Vidyamithram U. P. School (24),
FACT Udyogamandal School (1),
G. D. M. L. P. S. (9), G. D. M. L. P. School (3), G. H. S. S. Bhoothakkulam (20), G. H. S. S. Cheruthuruthy (1), G. H. S. S. Kokkallur (2), G. H. S. S. Neyyardam (305), G. H. S. S. S. Kadammanitta (4), G. H. S. S. Thonnakkal (3), G. J. B. School Peruvemba (20), G. L. P. S. Anaprampal (2), G. L. P. S. Choorakode (8), G. L. P. S. Kurampala (1), G. L. P. S. Thaliyaprambu (2), G. M. U. P. S. Ozhukur (8), G. M. U. P. Velur (5), G. T. T. I. (Men) Kannur (50), G. U. P. S. (37), G. U. P. S. Anjilipra (1), G. U. P. S. Bheemanad (1), G. U. P. S. Chengara (69), G. U. P. S. Elampally (43), G. U. P. S. Kasaragod (15), G. U. P. S. Malam (1), G. U. P. S. Naduvattam (3), G. U. P. S. Poozhikad (35), G. U. P. S. Pudukai (29), G. U. P. S. Purathur (2), G. U. P. S. Thengamam (5), G. U. P. S. Vilappilsala (1), G. V. H. S. S. Alappuzha (1), G. V. H. S. S. Atholi (1), G. V. H. S. S. Cheriyazheekal (5), G. V. H. S. S. Chunakkara (43), G. V. H. S. S. Chunakkara (2), G. W. L. P. S. Mannadykala (2), Gandhi Smarak U. P. School Mangalam (268), Government Higher Secondary School (6), Govt G. H. S. S. Kanyakulangara (48), Govt S. N. D. P. U. P. School Pattathanam (7), Govt. B. V. U. P . S. Keezhattingal (2), Govt. Boys H. S. S. Adoor (2),
H. D. P. Y. English Medium Public School (8), H. M. T. E. S. H. S. Kalamassery (5), H. U. P. S. Eramallikkara (117), Harisree Public School (1), Holy Angels Convent H. S. S. (4), Holy Cross H. S. S. Thellakom (1),
Islahiya Public School Kottakkal (140),
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (23), Jawahar Public School (4), John F Kennedy Memorial Vocational Higher Secondary School Ayanivelikulangara (1),
K. K. M. G. V. H. S. S. Elippakulam (112), K. K. P. M. U. P. S. Varinjam (1), K. M. J. Central School- Vadakkevila Kollam (1), K. P. M. Model School (115), Kayaralam A. U. P. School (207),
L. S. N. G. H. S. S. Ottapalam (9), Learning Home (1), Leo XIII English Medium School Kalath (84),
M. I. C. English Medium Senior Secondary School (7), M. S. H. S. S. Ranny (4), M. T. S. S. K. G. U. P. School (387), M. W. B. U. P. School (1), Mahlara Public School (7), Mankara West Basic and U. P. School (18), Mar Augen High School Kodanad (12), Mar Thoma Public School Kakkanad (10), Mary Giri High School Maramchatty (32), McLeods School Bathery (14), Mount Carmel G. H. S. S. Kottayam (94), Muchukunnu U. P. School (1), Muslim H. S. S. Kangazha (13),
N. H. S. S. Narokkavu (6), N. S. S. H. S. S. Prakkulam (27), N. S. S. K. H. S. S. Kottakkal (2),
O. L. C. G. H. S. Palluruthy (1),
Pallottihill Public School Agastianmuzhi Mukkam (2), Peace Public School Kottakkal (64),
R. K. U. P. Palottvayal (13), R. S. W. G. L. P. S. Ettumanoor (2),
S. D. V. G. U . P. School Neerkunnam (19), S. D. V. G. U. P. School Neerkunnam (3), S. H. L. P. S. Ramapuram (2), S. M. L. P. S. Kaliyar (80), S. N. C. M. L. P. S. Neyyassery (1), S. N. Trust H. S. S. Thottada Kannur (6), S. N. U. P. School Pothinakandam (3), S. S. B. S. Pune (3), S. S. G. H. S. S. Puranattukara (6), S. V. G. L. P. School Chettupuzha (1), S. V. H. S. Pandanad (5), S. V. H. S. S. Pandanad (1), S. V. H. S. S. Thamarakudy (17), S. V. V. H. S. S. Thamarakudy (7), Sabarigiri English School (3), Sanskrithy Padana Kendram (4), Sarvodayam V. H. S. S. Aryampadam (14), Seen Public School (305), South Kuthuparamba U.P. School (33), St Michael’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School Kavil (11), St. Augustine H. S. S. (2), St. Boniface U. P. S. Pattithanam (1), St. Helen’s G. H. S. Lourdepuram (214), St. Mary’s Jnanodaya English School Maicavu (2), St. Mary’s R. P. S. (1), St.Thomas H. S. Thiroor (1), Syrian Jacobite Public School Thiruvalla (13),
T. H. S. Puthenchira(13),
U. M. L. P. S. Thiruvilwamala (210), Ulliyeri A. U. P. School (1),
V. V. H. S. S. Thamarakulam (932), Veeravnchery L. P. School (6), Vidyaniketan Public School Payyoli (6), Vidyodaya (4), Vivekananda Public School Kurumulloor (3)
Colleges (5)
Ahmedabad University (4), Chanderbala Modi Academy (162), College of Forestry (30)
Maharaja Sayajirao University – Baroda (91), Nalanda University (104)
Thank you for spending another year with your trees and SeasonWatch. We are delighted to walk with you into 2025, for more tree observations and festivals.
Until then, remember to observe trees during your holidays too.
Happy SeasonWatching!
