VARANASI, June 6 -- The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus, known for its greenery and plant diversity, houses over 50,000 trees belonging to 158 species and 50 families, revealed a comprehensive tree census carried out by the university to document the tree population. The census, conducted under the aegis of the horticulturist unit across the Varanasi campus, was carried out between March and May 2025. Vice-chancellor Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi released the census findings, compiled in a book titled "Trees of BHU," on Friday during a grand ceremony at Mahamana Hall, Institute of Science, marking World Environment Day. Prof Amit Patra, director of IIT-BHU, was also present. The publication represents one of the most extensive institutional tree inventories undertaken on an Indian university campus and documents the rich tree diversity and ecological heritage of BHU. Spread over about 1360 acres, the BHU campus is recognised as one of the largest and most significant institutional green landscapes in India. The publication provides a detailed scientific account of the campus tree diversity and establishes a baseline ecological database for biodiversity conservation, sustainable campus management, environmental planning and long-term ecological monitoring. The book also highlights the presence of an extraordinary diversity of avenue, ornamental, medicinal, fruit-bearing, culturally significant and ecologically important tree species on the campus.htc...