FORTY individuals took the oath at an adoption ceremony to care for 40 trees at the Xiangmi Park in Futian District on Sunday.

“I am going to take care of the tree and make it grow into an ancient tree,” they said following the lead of several child volunteers.

The 40 trees in the park were the first of the trees selected by the Futian District Urban Management Bureau for the public to “adopt” and take care of until they grow for more than 100 years.

Plant experts selected 40 trees of various species with potential to grow into ancient trees. Individuals or families that successfully applied to be qualified to take care of the trees will need to undergo training on cultivating the plants and will be invited to engage in the daily management of the trees.

Currently, Shenzhen has more than 1,600 trees that are more than 100 years old, 76 of which are planted in Futian District.

Sun Xun, from the urban management bureau, said the 40 trees need to achieve a certain age and have enough space and a suitable environment to grow to be 100 years old.

Residents have showed their great passion by taking part in the campaign. Over 300 people filed applications to take care of the trees in only one week’s time.

One of the adopters is a woman surnamed Xiao. She said she is quite proud to become one of the adopters who will take care of the trees. Xiao hopes her kid will also take part in the project to help the city preserve nature.

Guo Zhisheng, director of the bureau, said 2018 is crucial for Shenzhen’s effort to earn the title, “National Forest City.” Ancient trees are not only symbols of the local ecology, but also connections to a city’s emotions and history, said Guo.

The purpose of the tree adoption campaign is to raise residents’ awareness about protecting trees and nature, according to the director.

In another development, the district’s urban management bureau was questioned recently over its action to cut several litchi trees that were a few hundred years old at a park in the Xiameilin area.

Some residents living near the park reported that they had seen a few ancient trees being cut. According to a notice posted on the park’s wall, the park is going to be rebuilt into a school.

The bureau later responded that they were not cutting the trees, but moving them to Pingshan District to be relocated at a later date.

To remove the trees, the gardeners only had to trim them and left the trunks.

(Zhang Qian)