The interface of Alipay's Ant Forest platform on ancient tree protection. [Photo/tianmunews.com]

As part of a new initiative to protect ancient trees, Hangzhou has recently launched the first batch of 200 ancient trees on Alipay's Ant Forest platform.

Citizens can accumulate green energy by adopting low-carbon behaviors such as taking public transportation, reducing paper and plastic usage, conducting online transactions, and promoting recycling. They can then use the accumulated green energy to apply for Ant Group's donations, supporting relevant organizations in their conservation efforts.

The Hangzhou municipal bureau of forestry and water jointly collaborated with Ant Forest to develop mobile features like "Ancient Tree Handbook" and "360-degree Tree Photography," allowing users to make pledges and send prayers to the ancient trees that have witnessed the historical changes in Hangzhou.

As a city rich in history and culture, Hangzhou is home to numerous ancient trees. Since 1962, the city has conducted seven surveys on ancient trees, and in 2018, it completed a new survey on ancient tree resources, identifying a total of 28,952 ancient trees. It has also set up 28 cultural parks dedicated to ancient trees.

The gingko tree at the West Lake scenic area boasts a history of 1,431 years. [Photo/WeChat account: visithangzhou]

A significant number of the ancient trees have intriguing stories. For instance, a North American redwood tree in Huagang Park of West Lake Scenic Area, was presented to China during the visit of US President Nixon in 1972. In Jiande's Daciyan scenic area, there is a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree that stands over 40 meters tall with a diameter of 1.5 meters, which is believed to have been planted by the eminent monk Master Moziyuan during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Hangzhou spares no effort in protecting its green treasures. Since the enactment of the Regulations on the Protection of Ancient Trees in Zhejiang Province in 2017, the city has also issued a decision on strengthening the protection of ancient trees. All ancient trees in the city have been documented and assigned electronic archives, accompanied by signage and plaques.

Every small effort counts when it comes to safeguarding ancient trees. Protecting these living heritage sites requires the participation of all of society, as the collective strength of individual contributions can make a powerful impact.