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Science-based measures implemented to protect old, valuable trees

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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.

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Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A security team, comprising operatives of DSS and forest guards, has rescued two victims of abduction in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire area of isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

The rescued victims are 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez who is five-year old.

The team also eliminated two armed bandits, while others escaped with severe injuries as the security forces stormed their hideouts, according to a report by DSS and local authorities.

The security team also recovered several items from the kidnappers, including one Ak-47 rifle; one single barrel; one fully loaded magazine with nine empty; mini-solar panel; and food items.

The rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government.

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Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has commenced full-scale investigations into the killing of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the murder as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those behind the attack.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased left home for his farm in the morning but did not return, prompting his family members and local vigilantes to organise a search.

The search party reportedly found his motorcycle parked on the farmland before discovering his lifeless body a short distance away. Police said the victim had sustained deep machete cuts.

Reacting to the incident, CP Adekimi ordered investigators to deploy all available intelligence and investigative resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“The killing is cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” the commissioner of Police said, assuring residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Although no suspect had been arrested as of Monday, the command said all available leads were being diligently pursued.

The police also assured the bereaved family, the people of Isin Local Government Area and the general public that investigators were working tirelessly to track down everyone connected with the crime.

“The Kwara State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and will not relent until every person responsible for this reprehensible act is brought before the law,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

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Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A coordinated security operation involving the Kwara State Police Command, other security agencies and the Kwara State Polytechnic Security Unit has led to the arrest of a suspected cultist, Agboola Olamilekan, with a locally fabricated pistol recovered from him in Ilorin.

The operation, carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state, was described by the police as another breakthrough in intelligence-driven policing aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reducing the circulation of illegal firearms.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect was apprehended during the joint operation while in possession of the firearm.

According to the statement, the operation is part of the Command’s sustained strategy to disrupt cult-related activities and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate within the state.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.

“Every successful operation represents another step towards dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety across the state through proactive and intelligence-led policing,” the commissioner said.

The police disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the criminal network linked to the suspect.

The Command added that it remains committed to advancing the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through intelligence-led policing, strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sustained operations aimed at ensuring that those responsible for threatening the peace and security of Kwara State are brought to justice.

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