Thousands more 'great trees' join Latvia's list

Take note – story published 6 years ago

An initiative to plot and protect Latvia's enviable inventory of large and impressive trees has received an amazing response, the organizers said October 16.

The Nature Protection Board and the Ministry of Culture said in a release that over three months members of the public have filed reports of more than 2,500 particularly notable trees, which are known in Latvian as Dižkoki (great trees) and are protected by law, having the status of national monuments.

Since July of this year, people have been logging onto a specially designed digital map lv100.lv/dizonsanas posting descriptions and photographs of any trees they feel are worthy of consideration. 

However, it should be noted that more than 2,000 of the trees have been entered by scientist and dendrologist Arnis Bērziņš.

Of the electronically-reported trees from non-specialist sources, 180 are oak, 70 linden, 24 willow, and around 20 maples and 20 ash trees. Besides the well-known and easily recognizable trees there are also wild pear trees, junipers, pines and firs.

The tree project is one of those slated to celebrate Latvia's centenary next year.

It is still possible to put data onto the digital map. The information will be checked and the trees indicated on the map will be surveyed by the Nature Protection Board specialists. If the tree meets the specified standards, it will be registered in the official register of the trees and will place a recognizable sign there.

To find out more about Latvia's great trees, you might like to read our earlier story, which is reproduced on the official centenary website HERE and revisit our series on Trees of Latvia.

 

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