The recently held executive meeting of the State Council approved the draft of the Regulations on the Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees. This is the first specialized regulation for the protection of ancient and famous trees in China, which will provide a solid legal guarantee for the cause of ancient and famous tree protection. The meeting emphasized the need to adhere to the principle of protection first, and to promptly formulate and revise supporting institutional systems such as standards and norms for the protection and management of ancient and famous trees, and to implement detailed regulations on graded and classified protection, daily maintenance, and logging and transplantation management. We should make reasonable use of ancient and famous tree resources, fully tap into historical and cultural connotations, orderly carry out ecological tourism, scientific research and other activities, do a good job in scientific research and popularization of conservation and treatment technology, severely crack down on illegal activities such as poisoning ancient trees and illegal logging, guide the whole society to enhance protection awareness, and form a joint force for protection. Shaanxi is a province with a large number of ancient and famous trees. There are currently 727300 ancient and famous trees, including 11400 scattered trees and 271 ancient tree clusters with 715900 trees. Five ancient and famous trees over 5000 years old in China are all located in Shaanxi, namely "Huangdi Hand planted Cypress (Xuanyuan Cypress)", "Baosheng Cypress", "Laojun Cypress", "Cangjie Hand planted Cypress", and "Luonan Ancient Cypress". In recent years, Shaanxi has implemented the "one tree, one policy" protection for five ancient trees over 5000 years old, including Huangdi's hand planted cypress, and scientifically implemented protection measures. By delineating the protection scope, renovating the ground pavement, strengthening tree support, installing facilities and equipment such as cameras and fire hydrants, the fire prevention, lightning protection, wind prevention, pest and disease prevention, and damage prevention capabilities of the five ancient trees have been comprehensively strengthened. In 2024, Huangling County in Shaanxi Province was included in the first batch of four pilot counties (districts) for the protection of ancient and famous trees in China. Keqiao District in Zhejiang Province is also included in the pilot counties (districts). There are 21700 ancient trees over a hundred years old in the local area, with 226 ancient tree clusters and 2 of the most beautiful "ancient tree clusters" in China. In 2013, the "Kuaiji Mountain Ancient Torreya Tree Cluster" was recognized as a globally important agricultural cultural heritage. In recent years, Keqiao District has conducted three surveys and one supplementary survey to understand the distribution and quantity of ancient and famous trees in the entire district. 21700 ancient trees and reserve ancient trees have been assigned "identity QR codes", and a total of 278 restored ancient trees and 61 weakened ones have been treated. We have taken the lead in building a multispectral monitoring station, which comprehensively analyzes five indicators including the growth status and environment of ancient trees, achieving a mechanism of deep "control", closed-loop "management", and fine "cultivation". At the foot of Yangmingshan in Shuangpai County, Hunan Province, there is a village called Tongziao Village, which is famous throughout the country for its ancient ginkgo community. There are over 3000 ginkgo trees in Tongziao Village, with 130 trees over a hundred years old, and the oldest one being over 1600 years old. Once, this was a famous impoverished village in Hunan. Since 2015, the local community has gradually realized that good ecological resources such as ancient and famous trees have enormous economic and cultural value. While adhering to the principle of prioritizing the protection of ancient and famous trees, we have fully utilized the endowment of ancient and famous tree resources, excavated the historical and cultural value of the ancient ginkgo group, and developed tourism in the village. Nowadays, at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the ginkgo leaves in the whole village turn golden, attracting thousands of visitors every day. Villagers sell ginkgo fruits and enjoy rural tourism, making the "ginkgo economy" the main source of income for villagers in remote villages. In 2023, the comprehensive tourism revenue will reach 384 million yuan, fully realizing rural revitalization. Technological innovation is providing important support for the protection of ancient and famous trees. In recent years, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration has established specialized research institutions such as the Ancient Tree and Famous Tree Protection and Breeding, Ancient Tree Health and Ancient Tree Culture Engineering Technology Research Center. Chinese scientists have made breakthroughs in the fields of ancient tree and famous tree resource investigation, tree age identification, health assessment, rescue and rejuvenation, and resource expansion. They have successfully propagated the offspring of Huangdi Hand planted Cypress, Laozi Hand planted Ginkgo, and Hanwu Emperor Hanging Armored Cypress through cuttings, overcome the non-destructive testing technology of internal defects in ancient trees and famous trees, and formed a complete set of comprehensive rejuvenation measures such as soil improvement, disease and pest control. They have also issued multiple national and industry standards such as ancient tree census, identification, and rejuvenation. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration stated that it will focus on tackling major scientific issues such as the longevity genes and decline mechanisms of ancient and famous trees, the physiological mechanisms during the rejuvenation process, as well as key technical challenges such as the development of non-destructive identification equipment for the age of ancient and famous trees, the rescue and rejuvenation of endangered ancient trees, expansion and genetic improvement. It will quickly formulate technical specifications for the classification protection and daily maintenance of ancient and famous trees, widely carry out the maintenance and treatment of weakened and endangered ancient and famous trees, innovate forms of science popularization and publicity activities, and create a good social atmosphere for the whole society to care for and cherish ancient and famous trees. The promulgation of the "Regulations on the Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees (Draft)" will regulate the investigation and publication, administrative management, daily maintenance, transplantation and protection of ancient and famous trees from the national institutional level. It is a significant progress in the process of legalizing the protection of ancient and famous trees and has milestone significance. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration stated that in the future, with the continuous improvement of the protection system, the continuous strengthening of technological support, and stricter law enforcement and supervision, the good atmosphere of the whole society jointly protecting ancient and famous trees will become increasingly strong. These "living fossils" carrying historical memories will also be sustainably inherited, adding more green heritage to the construction of a beautiful China. (New Society)