--- title: "India’s Ancient Banyan Trees: The Keystone Giants Sustaining Regional Biodiversity" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/india-s-ancient-banyan-trees-the-keystone-giants-sustaining-regional-biodiversit-27sol publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom published: 2026-07-31T02:30:00.000Z modified: 2026-07-31T06:02:01.263Z language: en-IN --- # India’s Ancient Banyan Trees: The Keystone Giants Sustaining Regional Biodiversity Recent botanical research confirms that India's multi-century-old banyan trees function as self-contained ecosystems and vital food sources for hundreds of species. Radiocarbon dating and ecological observations highlight the critical role these Ficus benghalensis specimens play in forest regenerati ## Key takeaways - A banyan tree in Bihar's Munger district is now the oldest radiocarbon-dated specimen of its kind at 700 years old. - Ficus species provide year-round food security for wildlife, a phenomenon known as trophic continuity. - Banyan seeds processed by birds and bats have higher germination rates, aiding natural forest regeneration. - Large specimens like the Great Banyan in West Bengal host independent ecosystems across several acres of aerial roots. Scientific scrutiny is casting new light on the ecological significance of India's ancient banyans (Ficus benghalensis), confirming their status as keystone species that anchor entire biological communities. These giants, found across the Indian subcontinent from the busy corridors of Bengaluru to the riverbanks of Gujarat, serve as more than historical landmarks. They provide permanent infrastructure for an intricate web of birds, mammals, and insects. ## Confirming Centuries of Ecological Stability Recent high-precision radiocarbon dating has established a new record for the species. Scientists confirmed this month that a banyan in the Munger district of Bihar has stood for approximately 700 years, making it the oldest accurately dated specimen identified to date. This discovery surpasses previous age estimates often rooted in local folklore, providing a factual baseline for how long these trees maintain regional biodiversity. Such longevity is mirrored in the Great Banyan Tree of West Bengal’s Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden. At roughly 250 years old, this specimen has survived the death of its original central trunk, expanding instead through a network of 3,700 aerial roots. Spanning 4.7 acres, its canopy functions as a living laboratory, hosting mosses, orchids, and lichens that in turn support reptiles, pollinators, and spiders. ## The Pulse of the Trophic Cycle Research published in the International Journal of Phytology Research (2024) by Ananthaneni Sreenath and Rathinasabapathy Bhuvaragasamy details the specific wildlife reliance on these trees. A study at Kanha Shanti Vanam near Hyderabad observed six mature banyans during their fruiting period between February and May. The results identified a diverse assembly of visitors: - Diurnal birds: Common mynas, red-vented bulbuls, Asian koels, coppersmith barbets, and Indian grey hornbills. - Nocturnal mammals: Indian flying foxes that arrive after sunset. - Mammalian foragers: Three-striped palm squirrels active during daylight hours. Because different Ficus species fruit at staggered intervals throughout the year, they provide what ecologists term "trophic continuity." This uninterrupted food supply is essential for survival during seasons when other forest resources are scarce. ## Architects of Future Forests The relationship between the banyan and its inhabitants is symbiotic. The Telangana study noted that seeds passing through the digestive tracts of birds and bats showed significantly higher germination rates than those that simply fell to the ground. By consuming the figs, these animals act as mobile planters, facilitating the emergence of young banyan, peepal, and Indian bat fig seedlings across the landscape. While India hosts 115 recorded Ficus taxa, specific varieties such as Ficus beddomei and Ficus krishnae remain vulnerable. Preservation efforts for giants like the 400-year-old Dodda Alada Mara in Bengaluru—with its 1,359 prop roots—or Andhra Pradesh’s five-acre Thimmamma Marrimanu are fundamental to maintaining the broader environmental health of the region. Source: The Better India --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/india-s-ancient-banyan-trees-the-keystone-giants-sustaining-regional-biodiversit-27sol Reported from: The Better India