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Hellenic Tree Register
The Hellenic Tree Register is a record of the most notable trees of our country. Its purpose is to inform citizens and the competent authorities about the value of trees and to promote measures aimed at their protection.
The Register has been initiated in 2022 by the Friends of National Parks and is constantly enriched with new data. Entries are made on the basis of specific regulation and the operation of the Register is supervised by a scientific committee.
Trees are among the largest and most widespread organisms on the planet. They provide us with important services, create remarkable ecosystems and support many other organisms.
However, in our country, knowledge about trees is incomplete and their value is not commonly recognised. In recent years, trees in Greek cities have been under unprecedented attack by the very authorities responsible for their management and protection. At the same time, forest trees are facing more frequent and more intense fires and the pressure created by climate change. Some species, such as the plane tree, are being killed off by new diseases brought from other parts of the world because of modern transport and trade. Many trees are also being destroyed during the construction of projects, mainly public and even private, due to a lack of education. As for trees on agricultural land, they have already suffered the devastating effects of land reparcelling and the mechanisation of agriculture in the lowland areas of our country a few decades ago, so that today there are very few remnants left in these areas.
Fifty years ago, the picture of Greek trees was very different from what it is today. Projecting this trend into the future, we cannot be optimistic. The Register, by recording these natural monuments that are unfortunately being gradually lost, will allow us in the future to know what the nature and landscape of Greece was like in earlier times.
Regulation for the entry of data in the Register
Ι. Criteria for the entry of a tree in the Register
The following shall be recorded in the Register:
– trees of exceptional size, age or form, representing the potential for growth of each species in the particular locality
– trees which are remnants of vegetation that formerly existed on a site and which can contribute to the implementation of restoration programmes
– trees belonging to significant landscapes, gardens or plantings
– trees of particular genetic value or trees showing resistance to disease/attacks or special conditions
– trees associated with the history of a place.
II. Data to be entered in the register
In order for a tree to be listed in the register, its basic data (species name, exact location, height and trunk girth) must be recorded in a scientifically acceptable manner and photographs of a known date must be available. More information is desirable but not always available and therefore not absolutely necessary for a tree to be listed. In total, the database contains about 50 information fields, each of which is filled in according to specific specifications.
III. Who may submit data to the Register
The Friends conduct organized tree inventories in several areas of the country. They also cooperate with schools, universities, associations and the relevant authorities, such as Pprotected Area Management Units and Forestry Offices.
At the same time, anyone can contribute to the Register by submitting data on trees they know or have visited. The submission is done using the Data Submission Form. In all cases, the data are checked to ensure that the registration criteria are met and that the Register is reliable and homogeneous. For this reason it is usually necessary to carry out a confirmation by means of an on-the-spot check before the tree is entered in the Register.
As it is not always easy to collect all the necessary data by reliable methods – in particular the measurement of height and trunk circumference, which require appropriate equipment – incomplete data may be submitted for evaluation, but in this case at least the location of the tree and a photograph is necessary.
Tree Measurement Guide
Measuring the height of a tree and the circumference of its tre trunk accurately is not easy. Several methods have been used over the years. The Tree Measurement Guide (in Greek) lists the main ones, including methods suitable for schoolchildren.
Scientific Committee
The Registry operates under the supervision of a Scientific Committee established for this purpose.
Trees of the Past
Unfortunately, in our country there are no systematic records of trees, as for example in England, where the available data and measurements covering 200 years allow conclusions to be drawn about the growth rate of trees and their lifespan.
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 very important for the collection of such data.
Intellectual Property of the Register data
All data and texts entered in the Register are the intellectual property of the Friends of the National Parks
and are made available free of charge under written permission, for educational or research purposes only.
They may not be used or copied or reproduced for any other purpose, commercial or otherwise, in any manner or medium,
without the written permission of the Friends of Hellenic National Parks.
All photos: © Friends of the National Parks, unless otherwise noted.