Payin

Planted in the memory of Pazhassi Raja on the occassion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

Overview

Hidden deep in the rainforests of the Western Ghats, a tree towers over the landscape.
The tree is called Vateria indica, but locals refer to it as the Indian Copal tree.
Known for its precious resin, Vateria indica is a symbol of both natural wealth and ecological vulnerability.

Standing at an impressive height of 40 to 50 m, Vateria indica ranks among the giants of the forest.
The trunk is straight, often branching only at great heights, and covered with smooth, gray bark.
Its leaves are a rich glossy green, spanning up to 20 cm in length, simple, alternate, and leathery, designed to endure heavy monsoon downpours.
The tree’s resin, known as ‘piney varnish,’ exudes from incisions in the bark.
The resin was once widely sought after for traditional medicines, varnishes, and incense, but demand dwindled, leading to decreased attention to the tree’s survival.

In the spring, Vateria indica produces small, fragrant flowers that appear in clusters at the ends of branches.
These white, delicate flowers may seem insignificant compared to the tree’s towering presence, but they hold the promise of fruit and the next generation of this imperiled species.

The fruits of Vateria indica are large, fleshy drupes, sometimes growing to the size of a small mango.
The outer covering of the fruit is green and smooth, but it’s the seeds inside that are rich in oil, historically used in cooking and as a remedy for skin ailments.
The fruits are rarely found scattered across the forest floor anymore due to habitat encroachments and overharvesting, making them a rarity.

Vateria indica belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family and is part of a lineage of trees dominant in Southeast Asia’s lowland forests.
The genus Vateria was first described in the early 19th century, but Vateria indica has long been known to local populations for its diverse uses.
Its closest relatives thrive in tropical forests across the Indian subcontinent, but none hold the same ecological and economic importance as the Indian Copal.

For centuries, Vateria indica has been prized for the resin it produces, known as copal.
The resin, collected by making strategic cuts in the tree’s bark, has been used in varnishes, incense, and as a binding agent in traditional medicine.
The oil from its seeds has long been used to treat skin diseases and for cooking.
The wood of Vateria indica is highly valued for its hardness and resistance to termites, making it ideal for constructing boats, furniture, and railway sleepers.
Today, a different kind of exploitation threatens the survival of this tree.

Vateria indica was previously listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to overexploitation for timber, habitat loss, and other human activities.
A 2020 assessment placed the species in the vulnerable category.
The species faces restricted seed dispersal, limiting regeneration, along with timber exploitation and extensive habitat loss in lowland areas.
Market-driven and intensive harvest of the nuts in recent years is expected to further affect the remaining populations.
The survival of Vateria indica may depend on preserving its natural habitat and recognizing the true cost of losing irreplaceable species.

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