Botanists Are Working to Save Palm Trees from Extinction Threat
Now, botanists are teaching the people of Santook-Mirik, a forest community, to save the plant from extinction. There is now just one Windamere palm tree—named after the well-known Darjeeling hotel—in the little Kalimpong forest, which is the only area where it is found growing naturally. Now, botanists are teaching the people of Santook-Mirik, a forest community, to save the plant from extinction. The threat to the palm was almost accidentally identified last year by Rajib Gogoi, the director of the Botanical Survey of India's (BSI) Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre.
Windermere Palm, Kalimpong
Gogoi had previously, in 2023, visited British botanist Henry Noltie, who had "discovered" the palm, during a two-month visit to the UK. His curiosity was piqued when Noltie informed him that the Windamere palm was indigenous to a little region centered on a single Kalimpong hamlet.
There is now just one Windamere palm tree—named after the well-known Darjeeling hotel—in the little Kalimpong forest, which is the only area where it is found growing naturally.
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Windamere palm (Trachycarpus latisectus)
"For us botanists, the wild species are more important because villagers' plants sometimes contain hybrids." During the Edinburgh Sikkim Expedition in 1992, researchers were first made aware of a "strange" trachycarpus in Darjeeling by Noltie of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. Noltie had spotted two of these trees in the Windamere Hotel's Darjeeling garden. Research verified that the tree, Trachycarpus latisectus, was indigenous to a narrow area of Kalimpong woodland. After the location of its discovery, it was given the name Windamere palm.
Windamere palm tree extinction in Kalimpong
Gogoi's encounter with Noltie was prompted by a book that the BSI specialist co-authored with four other botanists last year on the rhododendrons of Darjeeling and Sikkim.
Samuel Rai, co-author of the book and head of the directorate of cinchona and other medicinal plant plantations, claimed that botanists from all over the world valued their work.
There is now just one Windamere palm tree—named after the well-known Darjeeling hotel—in the little Kalimpong forest, which is the only area where it is found growing naturally. The reason behind the palm's threat of extinction in the wild is unknown to botanists. But as an attractive plant, it has been shipped all over the world throughout the years.
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Windamere palm conservation and seed pricing awareness in Santoor-Mirik
Early last week, the directorate of Cinchona and the BSI (Sikkim chapter) agreed to work together to launch an awareness campaign in Santoor-Mirik. The people were informed by Rai and Gogoi that the tree needed to be preserved.
We discovered that the peasants were receiving Rs 50 for every kilogram of palm seeds. 100–150 seeds are possible in one kilogram. A single seed costs Rs 150, according to the different websites, Gogoi stated. The awareness campaign informs the villagers that the people to whom they are selling the seeds are not giving them what they deserve.
"If the villagers can negotiate a better price for the seeds, their earnings could increase." To encourage travel, it (the Windamere palm in the wild) may also be sold, according to Gogoi.
Samuel Rai was able to track down Victor Rai, a villager who had assisted the group of foreign botanists who had come for the original investigation following Noltie's discovery in identifying the plant.
Importance of the Windamere Palm
The Windamere palm (Trachycarpus latisectus) is not just another ornamental plant. Its discovery in Darjeeling’s cold climate defies the usual image of palms growing along tropical coasts. This uniqueness makes it an invaluable genetic resource for scientific research and global botanical interest. Its fan-shaped leaves, tall trunk, and resilience in cooler conditions distinguish it from common palm species.
Botanists argue that wild palms like this one are far more valuable than hybrids because they carry pure genetic traits. Losing such a plant would not only reduce biodiversity in Kalimpong but also erase a unique evolutionary adaptation found nowhere else on Earth.
A Journey of Discovery
The story of the Windamere palm is as fascinating as the plant itself. When Henry Noltie noticed the palm during the 1992 Edinburgh Sikkim Expedition, it was almost by chance. Without his keen eye, this rare palm might have remained unnoticed or mistaken for another species. His identification connected the plant to Kalimpong’s ecosystem, adding a new chapter to Himalayan botany.
Years later, Indian botanists like Rajib Gogoi carried forward the research, proving that the palm’s natural population had dwindled to just one surviving wild tree. This revelation shocked both local and international botanists and underlined the urgency of conservation.
Why is it Endangered?
Though the exact reason for its decline is unclear, experts suspect a mix of over-collection, habitat disturbance, and natural challenges. Because the Windamere palm is highly attractive and easily cultivated, its seeds have been exported worldwide. Ironically, while nurseries and collectors abroad grow the palm, its original wild habitat in Kalimpong has almost lost it completely.
The sale of seeds at unfairly low rates to middlemen has also threatened its regeneration. Villagers, unaware of its true value, have been exploited. Botanists now stress that community empowerment and education are essential for the plant’s survival.
Conservation Through Community
The involvement of Santook-Mirik villagers marks a turning point in the Windamere palm’s story. By educating the local community about its rarity and economic worth, conservationists hope to turn villagers into protectors rather than unintentional exploiters.
If villagers negotiate better prices for seeds or develop eco-tourism around the Windamere palm, they could generate sustainable income. This win-win situation ensures both the protection of the palm and the welfare of the forest community.
Looking Ahead
The conservation of the Windamere palm is not merely about saving a single species. It represents a broader movement to protect fragile ecosystems in the Himalayas. The case shows how scientific curiosity, international collaboration, and community involvement can come together to safeguard nature.
If successful, the story of the Windamere palm may inspire similar projects for other endangered Himalayan plants. More importantly, it reminds us that biodiversity can thrive in unexpected places, and every species—no matter how rare—deserves protection.
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