Iran, the treasure of long-lived trees

Long-lived trees are known as genetic, botanical, cultural and even historical reservoirs in world and there are countless efforts to maintain and protect them. Fortunately, the quality, number and diversity of long-lived trees in Iran are impressive and astonishing. According the results of a research project conducted at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, more than 573 long-lived individuals belonging to 36 tree species were identified and their information was recorded. This number will certainly be increased with conducting the next phase of the project. Longevity is a period of tree life beginning with limited or extensive heart rot in tree trunk.
The beginning of longevity period is different and depends on trees species. The beginning of longevity takes very long time to start longevity in some trees that makes them very valuable long-lived individuals. The suitable natural habitats, special concern paid to the high productivity of trees, being in historical and religious places and specific religious beliefs are reasons for the extraordinary age of long-lived trees. Nowadays, estimation of age in long-lived trees is possible by scientific methods. According to the results, plane, walnut, Juniper, cedar and wild pistachio had the most frequency. The most aged long-lived tree is Abarkouh cedar (estimated 4000 years old), followed by Sharestank, Abarsij and Serani Juniper with estimated 2700-2800 years old. The age of Estand and Esfad cypresses was estimated to be 990- 1040 years old. Over the past two decades, there have been a lot of efforts in introducing long-lived trees to the responsible organizations in order to protect them precisely and scientifically.