Digital map records data of ancient trees
By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-11-24 21:48

Beijing is planning a digital map of almost half a million trees in the city, in a bid to protect the capital's living cultural heritage.

Each of the ancient trees in Beijing will be recorded on the map, with detailed information about its age, height, girth, medical history, and location marked by longitude and latitude.

"Even the wormholes will be archived and we will take digital pictures for each tree from different angles," said Wang Zhongying, an official with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks that is in charge of the census.

Botanists can monitor the growth of the trees through satellites, which can show the surroundings within three metres of each tree, said Wang.

In case any tree becomes ill, gardening workers can look up the records and give timely treatment, said Wang.

Meanwhile, the digital map will be included into the database of the Municipal Commission of Urban Planning so that the commission can take tree protection into consideration when it evaluates and approves construction projects, said Wang.

She said in the past, many ancient trees had to be removed to give way to roads or buildings, which severely impacted their growth.

The map can also provide evidence if any ancient trees are removed without authorization, said Wang.

"For instance, a construction company dug out several ancient trees when it carried out a project at the Zaolin Street in Xuanwu District.

"The company replanted the trees at a place nearby and denied the fact until we showed the original records of the trees. The company has received punishments according to the law," said Wang.

So far, more than half of the city's 400,000-plus ancient trees have been archived since the census was started on 2001.

Wang said her bureau can only record 40 to 50 trees a day, and the census is expected to be finished by the end of next year.

"During the census, gardening workers not only did an overall check-up on the registered ancient trees, but also found more than 800 new trees just past their 100 birthday. Only trees older than 100 can be called ancient trees," said Wang.

Beijing is a city that boasts the most ancient trees in the world. Most of the trees in Beijing were planted during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911).

More than 6,000 of the ancient trees have a history of more than 300 years. And some have even seen a millennium come and go -- 1,000 winters and 1,000 summers.

However, in recent years, about 0.3 per cent of ancient trees have died annually and the total number of ancient trees is dwindling, said Yang Zhiyua, another official with the bureau.

He said the rapid urban construction that occupied the living space of ancient trees was the major reason for the accelerating death rate.

"The high-rise buildings, standing in great numbers, usually have very deep foundations. And most of the ground in downtown area is covered by asphalt. All these severely impact the trees' ability to absorb water," said Yang.

"Meanwhile, massive urban construction has changed the climate -- such as sunshine and temperature -- around ancient trees, and the trees are forced to adapt themselves to the new surroundings," said Wang.

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