FUTIAN District Urban Management Bureau held the launch ceremony for the “Future Ancient Tree” adoption campaign at Xiangmi Park on Sept. 9. The first batch of 40 “Future Ancient Trees” were adopted by citizens.

“Future Ancient Trees” refer to trees that were selected from the urban green space according to certain standards, which will live for 100 years after several years of cultivation. In this campaign, the plant expert group selected and identified trees suitable to be called “Future Ancient Trees” for adopters to raise and protect without needing to pay an adoption fee. The adoption period is three years, and the application can be renewed upon expiration.

This campaign aims to arouse people’s awareness of environmental protection, and engage citizens in protection in an innovative way.

Since the release of the adoption information, citizens have been actively participating in the campaign. The number of applicants reached 300 within a week. The Futian District Urban Management Bureau issued a “certificate of recognition for the future cultivation of ancient trees in Futian District” to the 40 adopters of the first batch of “Future Ancient Trees.”

“I am happy that I am one of the first adopters. I can have a nice experience with the ancient tree,” said Mrs. Xiao, “Additionally, my child can learn to care for nature from this campaign.”

According to Guo Zhisheng, director of the Futian District Urban Management Bureau, this year is crucial to Shenzhen’s establishment of a national forest city. The ancient trees not only symbolize local natural ecology, but also represent the connection between a city and its plants. At present, there are more than 1,600 ancient trees in Shenzhen.

(Zhang Yiling)