Macao has many trees that are a century old or more, and that are famous with special significance. In order to conserve and care for the trees that are on the “Protection List of Ancient and Valuable Trees”, the ancient-trees technicians team of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) carries out inspections based on the health status of such trees, including a physical examination and treatment if necessary.

The IAM ancient-trees technicians team mainly monitors the health and growth of ancient and valuable trees in Macao. The team regularly arranges treatment measures appropriate to their health status, such as branch-thinning and -shaping, pest control, maintenance, and rejuvenation therapy, as well as improvement of the environment at their location. The team also conducts continuous inspection and monitoring of healthy ancient trees, and formulates treatment and maintenance plans for them.

Technicians use PiCUS Sonic Tomograph technology to see inside the trunks of an ancient tree.

Technicians use an IML Resistograph to check the physical condition of an ancient tree.

Technicians do a chest-height measurement of the diameter of an ancient tree, and analyse any changes in its growth activity.

The IAM ancient-trees technicians team and experts from the mainland jointly provide guidance to tree-care personnel to improve their tree-pruning and tree-protection skills.

The IAM ancient-trees technicians team and experts from the mainland jointly inspect the growth of ancient trees in Macao.

The IAM ancient-trees technicians team and experts from the mainland – through technical exchanges – jointly develop appropriate management and protection plans for the conservation of ancient trees in Macao.

Experts from the mainland inspect the work of tree-care personnel hired on an outsourced basis to care for ancient trees, and provide advice to IAM’s own ancient-trees technicians team.

The IAM ancient-trees technicians team exchanges experiences in ancient-tree conservation with mainland experts.