At present, 15 579 ancient trees are officially registered in Latvia. Since people can report not only an ancient tree growing on their own property but also imposing trees they have seen elsewhere, the public readily takes part in reporting new ancient trees. Thanks to reports from members of the public, nature experts and state environmental inspectors of the Nature Conservation Agency, 817 new ancient trees were confirmed last year.
People most often notice and recognise the trees celebrated in folklore, which are also easy to spot in nature – mighty oaks, pines and limes. Although the leaders in the ancient tree rankings across Latvia's regions remain unchanged – the pedunculate oak Quercus robur (38% of the total number of ancient trees), the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris (22%) and the small-leaved lime Tilia cordata (11%) – elms, willows, ashes, junipers and trees of other species are just as important for natural diversity. The greatest number of ancient trees has so far been recorded in Vidzeme (5 375).
Anyone can nominate a new ancient tree by submitting the details in the “Report an ancient tree” section of the Nature Conservation Agency website. The same page offers useful information on how to measure a tree correctly and how thick or tall an ancient tree of each species must be.
We would remind you that a tree of any species can become an ancient tree, that is, a protected natural monument, once it reaches the trunk girth or height specified in Cabinet of Ministers regulations. Whether or not a tree bears the “Oak Leaf” ancient tree identification sign, an imposing tree has the status of a protected tree. And the landowner is responsible for such a tree and its preservation. Important information for landowners on whose land an ancient tree or a potential ancient tree grows is collected in the “Natural monuments – protected trees or ancient trees” section of the agency's website.
Wider public involvement in surveying ancient trees began in 2017, in the run-up to Latvia's centenary. At that time some 6 000 ancient trees had been counted in Latvia.