Boluo County, Guangdong, Conducts Regular Health Checks on Ancient Trees to Protect Biodiversity

Boluo County in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, recently conducted health checks on each of the 86 ancient trees in a grove located in Gangnan Village, Huzhen Town. The oldest tree in the grove is 155 years old. Workers measured the trees’ diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and root conditions, and recorded the surrounding environmental conditions. For trees near villages or hardened or paved surfaces, protective measures were taken, including constructing protective basins around tree bases, filling tree cavities, and administering nutrient solutions.

Workers conduct a health check on an ancient tree

Boluo County currently has 2,683 registered ancient trees. Each tree has its own electronic file and a metal identification tag. By scanning the QR code on the tag, the public can access information such as the tree species, age, and protection level. The county has established a regular patrol system, with professional forest rangers conducting periodic inspections for pests and diseases, as well as risks of branch breakage or falling branches. Among the registered trees, 21 are classified as first-class ancient trees, the highest protection level, 96 as second-class, and 2,565 as third-class. Luoyang Subdistrict has the largest number of ancient trees, with 693.

Each ancient tree has an electronic file

While ensuring the protection of ancient trees, Boluo County is exploring ways to unlock the diverse value of these ancient tree resources. Baitang Town’s ancient Chinese olive orchard has become a recreational spot for residents; Taimei Town’s ancient lychee tree grove continues local farming traditions; and in Xuri Ancient Village, Longhua Town, ancient trees and traditional houses complement each other, creating a scenic attraction for rural tourism.

Ancient trees

In the future, the county plans to build ancient tree parks and forest parks, aiming to further integrate the protection of ancient trees with eco-tourism and nature education.
(Text and photos by Zhu Xiao, Chen Sihua, Huang Xiaowen, and Xue Yahu)