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A team of ecologists, arborists and environmentalists affiliated with several institutions across China, working with a colleague from Australia, has found that many old trees are finding sanctuary on temple grounds across China. For an article in Current Biology, the group used two main data sources to learn more about the protective value of temples.

Prior research has suggested that religious grounds often provide a safe haven for old trees—in such places, trees are spared from being cut for lumber and are often tended by those living or working there, sometimes for hundreds or even thousands of years. For this new study, the research team wondered about older tree preservation on temple grounds across China.

The team gained access to government data and information from past surveys regarding approximately 50,000 old trees at temples or other religious grounds across China. Most of such sites, they noted, were Buddhist temples.

The researchers found that approximately 6,000 of them were of a threatened species. They also found that some were ancient—two trees at Daming Temple were found to be approximately 1,500 years old. Ginkgo biloba trees at several sites appeared to be over 1,000 years old, and they are associated with the spread of Buddhism. The oldest was dated through documentation back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE). The researchers also found eight types of tree whose species no longer exist anywhere else.

The researchers note that Buddhist and Taoist temples are especially good places for old trees due to the emphasis by followers of such faiths on the spirituality of plants, including trees. That leads to strong efforts to ensure not only their safety, but their spread on the grounds of the temples. Another factor leading to the success of old trees is the choice of trees made by those who maintain temple grounds—trees that tend to live a long time, such as Ginkgo biloba, were often favored.

The research team notes that, despite their relatively small numbers compared to other types of trees across China, older trees on temple grounds still have an impact—many are serving as repositories for endangered species.

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