From very early times human beings have co-existed with nature, and forests have played a crucial role in their survival, providing the basics of life including food to eat (such as roots, succulent herbage, seeds, fruits, nuts and mushrooms at the forest floor), shelter (from wind, rain, snow and burning sunshine), wood (fuel for warmth, tools and weapons), some clothing and a host of other auxiliaries of life. In addition, they have helped to maintain a balance between carbon emissions and absorption because of their role in carbon sequestration. Even today, humanity's well being and ultimate survival are inextricably linked up with the natural resources, especially the trees for varying reasons, such as economic, ecological, and aesthetic, i.e. by providing a setting for recreation, sports, and beautifying the landscape, be these city roads, parks, gardens, public places and even the compounds of our homes. We have, at present, in use over 4,500 products that are derived wholly or in part from trees.

More than a thousand different kinds of trees occur naturally in India and many linguistic scholars and nature lovers have been struck by the beauty, richness and almost mystic allure of the tree life. We find charming description of most of our beautiful native trees in Kalidasa's Ritu Samhara, Valmiki's Ramayana, and sage Vyasa's Mahabharata. They have also been featured in our religions and ancient paintings and sculptures. In India, as perhaps in many other countries of the world, trees have been venerated since ancient times. Most Hindu temples have specific trees designated as ‘temple trees’. Some other trees have been introduced at times from near and far-off lands and have become an integral part or component of our landscape, e.g. the famous Flamboyant or Flame tree (Delonix regia) and Traveller's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis), both from Madagascar (earlier known as Malagasy); the Frangpani (Plumeria spp.), the rain tree (Samanea saman), Cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis), and the Jacarandas with delicate fern-like foliage and mauve flower (Jacaranda mimosaefolia), all from the New World tropics; the orange flowered African Tulip or Squirt tree (Spathodea campanulata) and Sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata)-both from tropical Africa; the Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia spp) from South Africa; the dazzling Golden Shower tree (Cassia fistula) from southeast Asia; and the Bottle Brush (Callistemon spp.) from Australia.