Hellenic Tree Register
The Hellenic Tree Register is a record of the most remarkable trees in our country. It was launched in 2022 by the Friends of the Hellenic National Parks and already includes 200 trees from all over Greece.
The purpose of the Registry is:
- to increase our knowledge and understanding of the trees in our country,
- to raise awareness among both citizens and public authorities about the value of trees and the need to protect them.
What is the value of large or old trees?
Old trees perform specific functions within the ecosystems to which they belong. Science has gradually come to understand that these functions cannot be fulfilled by young, small trees. Here are the most important ones:
- they provide habitat in their trunks and branches for many species of animals, plants, fungi, mosses, and lichens—some of which live exclusively on old or dead trees
- they favour the establishment and spread of many other plant and animal species
- they influence hydrology, carbon storage, soil fertility, the microclimate and the mesoclimate in the area where they are located
- can contribute to ecosystem restoration after a disturbance, such as fire or clearing, both through the seeds they produce and by providing shelter to other species that might otherwise be lost due to the disturbance—which is why they have been designated as “threads of continuity” which connect ecosystems, landscapes, and human communities over time.
Which trees are remarkable?
Defining “large or old trees” is not easy:
Each tree species has a different lifespan and a different maximum size.
If we use age as a criterion, then a 100-year-old willow or poplar is an old tree, while an oak of the same age is still young.
Age also presents the problem that it is difficult to measure.
If, on the other hand, we use size as a criterion, this varies from one ecosystem to another: for example, a large pine tree in a forest in Greece is much smaller than the pine trees in a forest in Νorthwest America.
For this reason, the Registry uses the term “remarkable trees,” which is more general but not vague: for a tree to be listed in the Registry, it must meet specific criteria.
Criteria for the entry of a tree in the Register
The Register lists trees that meet at least one of the following five criteria:
- trees of exceptional size, age, or form, which represent the growth potential of their species in a specific location
- trees which are remnants of vegetation that once existed in a location and wich can contribute to the implementation of restoration programmes
- trees forming part of significant landscapes, gardens or plantings
- trees of particular genetic value or trees that demonstrate resistance to diseases/pests or extreme conditions
- trees associated with the history of a place.
Submitting data to the Register
The most remarkable trees in our country may not yet have been discovered! We rely on our volunteers to record them and monitor their condition.
Anyone can contribute to the Register by submitting details of trees they know of or have visited. You don’t need to be a botanist; you just need to record the tree’s location accurately and photograph it.
If you know of a tree that you consider to be remarkable, follow the Instructions and complete the Data Submission Form (in Greek).
In all cases, the data are checked to ensure compliance with the registration criteria, as well as the reliability and consistency of the Register. For this reason, confirmation by means of an on-site inspection is often required before the tree is registered.
Measuring the height and circumference of a tree’s trunk
These measurements require certain equipment and are not always easy to carry out accurately.
The Tree Measurement Guide (in Greek) lists the main ones, including methods suitable for schoolchildren.
Use one of the methods describes in the Guide and take photographs whilst measuring, so that your data is more reliable and your measurements can be compared with future ones.
Trees that once were: data on trees of the past
Unfortunately, in our country there are no systematic, long-term records of trees – trees that have been destroyed have simply been forgotten.
For this reason, only data on trees existing in the year 2022 and later are entered into the central database of the Register. Data on trees that existed in the past, if they are considered reliable or accompanied by photographs, shall be entered in the special section of the Register entitled "Trees of the Past". The contribution of volunteers is vital for gathering such data.
One-day conference presenting the Hellenic Tree Register
November 29, 2024
You may find the proceedings and the video of the conference here (in Greek).
Scientific Committee
The Register operates under the supervision of a Scientific Committee established for this purpose. The Committee advises on scientific matters, such as the amendment or clarification of the registration criteria.
Tree Registers in other countries
