A 312-year-old Chinese fig tree was recognised as a Vietnamese heritage tree by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE).
Located in the central city of Hue, the tree was given its official status on Friday.
Honoured with the title “Vietnam heritage tree”
The tree was planted in 1698 by a man named Than Van Tham to serve as a landmark for Duong Xuan Ha village. It has been taken care of by 9 generations of Tham’s descendants. It is now 25 metres high and its trunk has a diameter of 1.4 metres.
At the ceremony, Nguyen Ngoc Sinh, Chairnman of VACNE, said that the recognition is of great significance to the cause of environmental protection, the preservation of biological genes of rare trees and the conservation of bio-diversity in Vietnam and the world.
The title “Vietnam heritage tree” will be awarded to three types of trees which include natural trees, grown trees and other kinds of trees.
Natural trees must live more than 200 years with an average height of 40 metres. They are expected to be of precious nature and of cultural and historical value.
Grown trees must live over 100 years with an average height of more than 30 metres and special forms and of cultural and historical values.
Regarding other kinds of tree, they must be unique, ornamental plants. They should also hold special scientific, cultural, and historical values
It takes three people to wrap around the trunk
(TalkVietnam)