Photography: Portuguese Tree of the Year / EMIGUS, Ana Sá / Tapada Nacional de Mafra
In a continuous effort to recognize and preserve the cultural and natural wealth of ancient trees, Portugal takes part of the “European Tree of the Year” contest. This contest, which began in 2011, not only celebrates the beauty, size and age of the trees but also brings to light their stories and relationships with people.
In the 2024 edition of this contest, among the 10 finalists, two impressive trees from the municipality of Mafra stand out, each with a unique story and deep ties to the region.
the diversity of these trees and the uniqueness of their stories reflect how Mafra views its natural heritage
Located in the Tapada Nacional de Mafra, one of them is the “Sobreiro do Rei” – King’s Cork Oak. A witness to the landscape before the construction of the convent and the Tapada themselves, this cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is already 385 years old and reaches a height of over 25 meters, with an expansive crown of 25.5 meters and a base perimeter of 7.5 meters. “Sobreiro do Rei” has not undergone cork extraction since the 1940s and has been distinguished as a Tree of Public Interest, as published in D.R nr 120 II Series of 24/05/2000.
As for the second finalist from Mafra, the Ginkgo Biloba is a female tree located in the Horto dos Frades area, at Jardim do Cerco, an area classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just like the Tapada. With a respectable age of 200 years, this Chinese Maidenhair or Japanese Nuttree reaches an impressive height of 28 meters, with a trunk perimeter of 4 meters. According to historical accounts, it is believed to have been planted by King Ferdinand II of Portugal, from his maritime expeditions.
The diversity of these trees and the uniqueness of their stories reflect how Mafra preserves and highlights its natural heritage, and participation in national and European competitions honors not only these trees and their history but also emphasizes the importance of environmental preservation for future generations.
The finalist trees now await the decision of the public, who can vote for their favorite among the 10 contestants. The winning tree will then represent Portugal in the European competition, where it will compete with the winners from other countries. Votes were kept secret from December 31, and anyone interested can vote until January 5 at 23:59.
The national contest is organized by the Union of the Mediterranean Forest (UNAC), an entity that represents the interests of forest producers in the Portuguese Mediterranean space with national and European institutions.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
