Third national survey of trees announced

China will launch its third survey of ancient and heritage trees nationwide this year to better protect the plant resources, an official from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said on Friday.

Liu Lili, deputy head of the administration's Ecological Conservation Department, told a news conference that the survey is to implement the Regulations on the Protection of Ancient and Heritage Trees, which was issued by the State Council, China's Cabinet, in January and will take effect on March 15.

The regulations require a national survey of ancient and heritage trees every 10 years, "and it has been a decade since the second survey was conducted across the country," Liu added.

Zhang Liming, head of the department, regarded the regulatory piece as a milestone, as it marks China's first legal framework for protecting ancient and heritage trees through administrative means, filling a critical gap in the national conservation efforts.

Ancient trees refer to trees over 100 years old, excluding those artificially cultivated in commercial forests for timber purposes, while heritage trees are those recognized for their significant historical, cultural, scientific, or commemorative value.

According to the second national survey conducted by the National Afforestation Commission from 2015 to 2021, China is home to over 5.08 million ancient and heritage trees.

Zhang emphasized the importance and urgency of issuing the regulations, "as illegal logging, transplantation and some other damages occur sometimes to the ancient and heritage trees in the country, which call for establishing specialized administrative rules for the conservation of such plants".

In response, the regulations require government officials to incorporate the management of ancient and heritage tree conservation into the audit of natural resource assets when they change their roles, aiding relevant departments to better fulfill their conservation responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the regulations have also clarified that those with illegal activities such as logging, transplantation, or harmful actions to the trees should face civil, administrative, or even criminal liabilities.

"Ancient and heritage trees are irreplaceable resources, embodying ecological, landscape and species conservation value," said Wang Zhen, director of the Publicity Center at the administration.

China ranks among the countries with the richest resources of ancient and heritage trees globally, with a national database for ancient and heritage tree resources preliminarily established, according to the administration.

"We will increase investment in urban conservation efforts and establish comprehensive national databases for ancient and heritage trees, as well as a reserve database for future heritage tree candidates," said Song Tao, director of the urban construction department at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

The regulations encourage local governments to harmonize conservation with socioeconomic development through eco-tourism, scientific research and public education initiatives. These measures aim to preserve cultural heritage while fostering sustainable growth.

Fang Biling contributed to this story.