Ancient Chinese Temples Safeguard Thousands of Old, Rare, and Perhaps Extinct Tree Species
Deep within China's Zhongnan Mountains, a grand ginkgo tree stands tall and golden, its leaves blanketing the Gu Guanyin Temple courtyard. This ancient tree, possibly rooted a millennium ago, has outlived dynasties, revolutions, and urban development - all thanks to faith.
A revealing study published this week showcases temples across China as accidental arks for countless ancient trees, shielding species threatened by human impact. Researchers led by Li Huang, from institutions in both China and Australia, documented an astounding 46,966 trees over a century old within 6,545 religious sites, many of which no longer grow anywhere else.
As Yongchuan Yang, a conservation researcher at Chongqing University and a senior author of the study, put it, “It's where ecological and spiritual values converge.”
Ancient Refuges
The team's research uncovered a staggering 5,872 trees from 61 threatened species, eight of which grow exclusively on temple grounds - like the critically endangered Carpinus putoensis. The only known living specimen of this species, estimated to be around 200 years old, remains standing proudly at Huiji Temple in Zhejiang Province. This discovery heralds the importance of temples as "living dead" species sanctuaries.
In a country where expansion has destroyed forests and fragmented habitats, temples emerge as unexpected sanctuaries. Old trees are over 7,000 times denser inside temple grounds than outside, with an average age inside temples of 261 years compared to just over 200 years outside. Some trees date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, around the time China's first state-sponsored Buddhist temple was built in 68 CE.
Faith's influence
Beyond their role as sanctuaries, faith has shaped China's botanical landscape in other ways. Certain species like Ginkgo biloba, Podocarpus macrophyllus, and Platycladus orientalis hold symbolic value in Buddhism and have been intentionally cultivated within temple life and rituals.
The study tracks the spread of these "Buddhist species" not by natural dispersal but by cultural propagation. They account for a staggering 65% of all old trees in Buddhist temples, illustrating faith's influence on the distribution of these species across China.
Endangered Conservation
For conservationalists, the study highlights the importance of partnerships and understanding the cultural significance of protected species. Old trees are significant for their ecological value, serving as critical seed sources, habitat providers, and soil stabilizers.
Regeneration is a challenge, as human activities often hinder seedling growth. The researchers recommend active propagation, using seeds from the oldest trees to cultivate new generations.
Despite sheltering these ancient trees from human disturbances, the sanctity of temple environments does not protect them from climate-related stresses. It's essential to empower local communities to tackle threats like invasive pests, extreme weather events, and drought.
A Universal Lesson
China's case offers valuable insights into the role of cultural heritage in conservation. Similar refuges exist in India's sacred groves, Japan's shrine forests, West Africa's ancestral tree sites, and beyond. By prioritizing cultural partnerships, policymakers can help preserve these sacred ecosystems for generations to come.
In the heart of Beijing, Tanzhe Temple embraces 178 ancestral trees, some over 1,200 years old. Their endurance serves as a testament to the power of faith and human care in nurturing the planet's oldest, most resilient life forms.
The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, invite us all to consider the possibilities of conservation through cultural understanding and faith.
- The ancient ginkgo tree in the Zhongnan Mountains, shielded by faith, stands as evidence of temples' role as accidental arks for endangered species.
- Researchers discovered 5,872 trees from 61 threatened species within Chinese temples, with some growing exclusively on temple grounds.
- In China, expansion has led to the destruction of forests and fragmented habitats, but temples serve as unexpected sanctuaries for ancient trees.
- The team's study revealed that old trees are seven times denser within temple grounds, with an average age inside temples of 261 years compared to an average of just over 200 years outside.
- Certain species, like ginkgo biloba, hold symbolic value in Buddhism and have been intentionally cultivated within temple life and rituals.
- The study underscores the importance of partnerships between conservationists and policymakers, who must value the cultural significance of protected species to ensure their survival.
- The research suggests a universal lesson: prioritizing cultural heritage can help preserve sacred ecosystems, as demonstrated by Tanzhe Temple in Beijing, where 178 ancestral trees, some over a thousand years old, continue to thrive.
