Tree Eminence

अश्वत्थमेकं पिचुमंदमेकं न्यग्रोधमेकं दशचिंचणीकम् I
कपित्थबिल्वाम्लकत्रयं च पन्चाम्रवापी नरकं न पश्येत ॥
                                                               - भविष्यपुराण

Bhavishyapuran states that, ‘Whoever will plant one of the plants out of Sacred Fig (पिंपळ), Neem Tree (कडूलिंब), Banyan Tree (वड) or ten plants of Tamarind (चिंच) or three plants of any one of the species from Wood-apple (कवठ), Indian bael (बेल) and Indian gooseberry (आवळा) or five plants of Mango (आंबा) will never go to hell that is will not face misery or hardship.’

During Ancient times when the human population was very less and nature was rich, the sages of that time had recognized the importance of nature conservation and plantation. On top of that so effectively they had emphasized the importance of the useful tree species. As per the mentions at other places in the literature, they used to arrange mass plantation (वन महोत्सव) which confirms their foresightedness and forethoughtfulness.