On Friday, the State Council in China approved the nation's initial draft regulation focused on the safeguard of ancient and rare trees. This new regulation introduces a structured three-tiered system of protection, where trees that are over 500 years old will be provided with the utmost protection, while those ranging from 300 to 500 years will receive first-level protection, and trees between 100 and 300 years will be under second-level protection.

According to the regulation, individuals who engage in unauthorized activities such as cutting down, relocating, selling, or transporting ancient and rare trees could incur fines that may reach up to 1 million yuan (approximately $136,500). In recent years, several provinces, including Sichuan, Hunan, and Hainan, have set up initiatives to enhance the preservation of these important ecological assets.

Specifically, in Hunan Province, construction companies are now mandated to cover the costs associated with the restoration and maintenance of any damage their projects inflict on ancient and rare trees since March 2022. Hainan, which implemented its own local regulation in late 2013, boasts an impressive count of 17,864 ancient and rare trees, reflecting its vibrant natural heritage.

In addition, Shaanxi Province is recognized as a significant area for ancient and rare trees, hosting approximately 727,300 of them, with around 715,900 located within 271 designated ancient tree clusters. Remarkably, all of China’s five ancient trees that are over 5,000 years old can be found within this province. Under this new regulation, ancient trees are classified as those exceeding 100 years in age, while rare trees are recognized for their historical, cultural, or scientific significance. Furthermore, an ancient tree cluster is defined as a collection of more than 10 ancient trees in close proximity, creating a distinct ecosystem.