Uncategorized
Science-based measures implemented to protect old, valuable trees
By Fu Wen, Zhang Tengyang, Fan Haotian, People’s Daily
Old and valuable trees are “living fossils” that carry the memories of civilizations. Over the recent years, local authorities across China have been working to ensure that the responsibility of conserving and protecting old and valuable trees is fulfilled, rejuvenate them in a timely manner, and strengthen relevant monitoring and law enforcement, making remarkable progress in protecting and managing these plants.
In Guanhe village, Jinping township of Chongxin county, Pingliang, northwest China’s Gansu province, there stands a gigantic pagoda tree that is 26 meters high. It has a east-west crown spread of 43.2 meters and a north-south one of 37.7 meters. According to estimation, the tree is more than 3,200 years old.
Today, the ancient tree is still vibrant after living thousands of years.
Zhang Jizhen, head of Chongxin county’s forestry and grassland bureau, told People’s Daily that the county is home to 222 registered old and valuable trees.
The county has taken the protection of old and valuable trees as an important measure to advance ecological progress over the recent years. On one hand, it launched surveys to get the picture of relevant resources in the county; on the other hand, it improved policies and mechanisms to ensure the responsibility of protecting these plants is fulfilled.
Three surveys were conducted to get a knowledge of the trees more than 100 years old in the county by the county’s forestry and grassland bureau and township governments, which included field trips and in-situ calculation, and recorded the heights, ages, locations and altitudes of these trees.
Zhang noted that the bureau also made “ID cards” for these plants which reveal their species, serial numbers, genera, classes of protection and managing organizations.
Besides, Chongxin county also recruited volunteers for the protection of registered old trees.
In Zhengding county, Shijiazhuang, north China’s Hebei province, there is a 600-year-old pagoda tree whose circumference is at least as long as the arm spans of two adults.
“I used to play under the tree when I was little,” said Wang Yuhua, an official with Zhengding county’s urban management department, who’s responsible for protecting the ancient tree. She does physical “checkups” for the tree every day.
“Ancient trees have lived a very long time and their roots widespread, which makes it difficult to distribute water and nutrients. Thus, these trees are prone to plant diseases,” Wang told People’s Daily.
Physical “checkups” for trees, just like those for humans, examine the health conditions of trees, including their trunk stability, growth situation, root vitality and soil quality which affects the growth of roots. Wang said.
The checkups not only reveal the health conditions of the trees, but also provide basis for the protection and rejuvenation of them.
According to Wang, detailed plans have been made to ensure these checkups and daily maintenance are well carried out, and once problems are spotted, targeted measures will be implemented.
The Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang district, Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, is a famous historical site. Many old and valuable trees are growing around it in the Yellow Crane Tower park.
Shi Hongwen, director of the center for the protection of old and valuable trees in Wuhan, noted that each old tree around the Yellow Crane Tower has its own protection plan, which was formulated based on its species, age, growth situation and the environment it is in.
In the eastern section of the Yellow Crane Tower park, there is a big ginkgo tree encircled by an iron fence as tall as an adult. The fence was erected in 2016 because some citizens often did exercise under the tree, which impacted the growth of the tree’s root. After the fence was erected, the park designated another site where citizens can do exercise. This move has put the tree under better protection while addressing the demand of citizens.
In April 2017, a technical code for routine maintenance and rejuvenation engineering of historical trees in urban areas was implemented. According to the code, the maintenance of these trees shall be prioritized, which is the basis for rejuvenation. Feed and bleed, fertilization, pest control, crown cleaning, environment treatment and other technologies should be applied to maintain historical trees, the code said.
Weak and endangered old trees as well as those with potential safety hazards shall be rejuvenated through soil improvement, damage treatment, tree hole repairing and trunk reinforcing technologies.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its intention to contest the 2027 presidential election despite the decision of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party said Wike’s decision was personal and did not alter its position to participate in the presidential election with its candidate, Senator Sandy Onor. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, made the clarification on Wednesday.
According to the party, a recent conversation between Wike and Onor should not be interpreted as a political negotiation between the minister and the PDP.
“He told Nigerians that Sandy is his friend. And they only had a friendly discussion within the umbrella of friendship. So, that is just a personal discussion between him and his friend,” Mohammed said.
He added that Wike’s support for Tinubu did not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Wike had earlier clarified that his support in 2027 was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential re-election and did not amount to an agreement that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests. He also said he never promised that the PDP would abandon its candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“I said I will support the President from day one. I never told Mr President I will join APC,” Wike said.
The minister also maintained that his proposed Rainbow Coalition was not an arrangement with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but rather a platform through which politicians from different parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The issue has generated disagreement with some APC governors, who have expressed concern about a political arrangement that could affect the party’s candidates at other levels.
APC Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodinma, said the governors would not support any alliance or arrangement that could weaken the APC or adversely affect its candidates.
Meanwhile, APC presidential campaign council spokesperson Ima Niboro has urged Wike and APC governors to end their public exchanges and concentrate on political mobilisation.
“When I said tone down the rhetoric, I do not mean stop working. Stop talking, go and work,” Niboro said.
He urged political leaders to strengthen their grassroots structures and engage directly with voters rather than continue exchanging statements in the media.
“All this shouting is not taking anybody anywhere. Go and work. Go and establish your authority on your political base,” he said.
2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves to States
2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves to States
2027: PDP Insists on Presidential Contest Despite Wike’s Support for Tinubu
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