Palm Trees as Defense Against Lightning

Odisha has imposed restrictions on cutting existing palm trees and plans to plant approximately 1.9 million such trees to mitigate casualties from lightning strikes.

Lightning

• Lightning is a massive electric discharge in the atmosphere between clouds, air, or the ground.
• Lightning strikes increase by about 12% for every degree rise in global average air temperature.
• The India Meteorological Department issues specific forecasts with color-coded warnings related to lightning events.

Lightning in Odisha

• Odisha remains among the states with the highest mortality rates due to lightning strikes.
• Changes in rainfall patterns, including longer dry spells during the monsoon, contribute to increased lightning occurrences.
• In 2015, Odisha categorized lightning as a “state-specific disaster.”

Palm Trees

• Palm trees have a long lifespan, with mature trees living up to 100 years, although they grow slowly and take about 20 years to reach full maturity and considerable height.
• Palm trees are effective conductors of electricity during lightning strikes, thereby reducing the incidence of strikes in their vicinity.
• This characteristic, combined with their longevity and utility values, positions them as valuable assets in disaster mitigation efforts.
• Countries like Thailand and Bangladesh have implemented large-scale palm tree plantations as a measure to mitigate lightning-related fatalities.