Establishing the Concept of Protecting Kaohsiung's Valuable Trees / 建立保護珍貴樹木的觀念
◎Text by Yi-Chun Lin ◎Photos by Chung-hui Pao, Economic Affairs Bureau
There are 606 valuable trees within the 11 districts of Kaohsiung. The city government is set to promote the concept of "protecting our valuable trees", to encourage citizens to care for these trees, the eco-life, and community developments surrounding them. Since last year, the Economic Affairs Bureau has awarded 5 "Honorary Tree-tizen" certificates to the organizations caring for them. By doing this, they are hoping to make Kaohsiung become a green city with much history and culture.
Among the 606 registered valuable trees, 6 of them belong to private landlords. According to the survey conducted by the Economic Affairs Bureau last year, 3 of the private landlords agreed to register their valuable trees. These trees include: 3 Rain trees belonging to 'Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church' in the Kaohsiung Parish, 1 Banyan tree owned by the Chien-chiu Temple Management Committee, and 2 Manila Tamarinds belonging to the Siaokang District Farming Association.
To raise the citizens' awareness of protecting our trees, the Economic Affairs Bureau teamed up with the Kaohsiung Valuable Trees Protection Commission, and held an awards ceremony at Holy Family Nursery in Gushan District last September. They awarded "Honorary Tree-tizen" certificates to the 3 private landlords who agreed to register their trees. The aim of the ceremony is to help the relevant authorities gain an in-depth knowledge about these valuable trees in order to assist them in achieving the goal of protecting and caring for the trees. Through this ceremony, they also want to spread the message of "protecting valuable trees", to help the citizens of Kaohsiung appreciate the value of these trees, enabling them to spontaneously care for the trees, the eco-life, and the community developments.
Through a selection process by Kaohsiung Valuable Trees Protection Commission, they have selected 2 trees to be awarded this year's Kaohsiung Honorary Tree-tizenship. One goes to a banyan tree, referenced as Yencheng 04, which stands by the City Museum of History in the Yancheng District. The other goes to Nanzih 078, a camphor tree that stands On the campus of Houjing Primary School in Nanzih District. These two trees have met the criteria of being an "Honorary Tree-tizen", set by the Kaohsiung Valuable Trees Protection Commission, and the organizations looking after them will be awarded the 2007 Honorary Tree-tizen certificates.
The old banyan tree of the Museum of History has stood on the bank of the Love River for nearly 70 years. It has witnessed the Japanese Period, the Retrocession, and the glorious days of the Yencheng Period. It is a part of every Kaohsiung citizens' memory. It was once deteriorating due to the destruction caused by the Haitang Typhoon, but thanks to the rescuing actions and intensive care provided by the Museum, it has regained its vitality and is thriving with life again.
The staff, students, and neighbors of the Houjing Primary School, hold a shared fond memory of the camphor square. It builds a bridge between the school and the community as well as provides a location for interaction. The camphor square serves as a multi-functional venue for educating, relaxing, art and culture events, and social activities.
Currently the tree with the largest number among the registered valuable trees is the Cajeput. The second is the banyan tree, and the third is the Rain tree. The oldest registered tree is the banyan tree located on Lanchang Road in Nanzih District, which is approximately 300 years old.
Should you need any information relating to the registered valuable trees in Kaohsiung, please contact the Economic Affairs Bureau Section 3 directly at 07-3373162。
◎文／林秀麗 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉．建設局
高雄市11個行政區內，共有606株珍貴樹木，市政府為了傳達「保護珍貴樹木」觀念及主動關心樹木、生態及社區發展，建設局自去年以來，共頒發５張「榮譽樹民證」，讓高雄市成為有歷史文化的綠色城市。
在列管的606株珍貴樹木中，屬於私有者共６株。去年建設局調查結果，有三位私有地主同意列管，包括財團法人天主堂高雄教區露德聖母堂的３株雨豆樹、千秋府管理委員會的１株榕樹及小港區農會的２株金龜樹。
為了喚起民眾樹木保育意識，建設局去年九月就針對同意列管珍貴樹木的三位私有地主，與高雄市珍貴樹木保護委員會共同於鼓山區聖家托兒所，舉辦頒發「榮譽樹民證」活動。希望對各監護單位加強宣導認識珍貴樹木，達成保護及照顧珍貴樹木的目的，傳達「保護珍貴樹木」觀念，瞭解珍貴樹木的價值，進而積極主動關心樹木、生態及社區發展。
今年各高雄市榮譽樹民證遴選結果，鹽埕區歷史博物館旁，編號「鹽埕004」榕樹，以及楠梓區後勁國小校園內，編號「楠梓078」樟樹等2株，經珍貴樹木保護委員會審查，符合榮譽樹民條件，獲頒發96年度高雄市榮譽樹民證。
市立歷史博物館旁的老榕樹，屹立於愛河畔近70年，歷經日治、光復及鹽埕黃金歲月，是許多高雄人的共同回憶，並曾經歷海棠颱風摧殘曾一度垂危，在史博館積極搶救及養護下，如今再現生機，欣欣向榮。
後勁國小老樟樹廣場，則是該校師生及鄰近社區民眾共同記憶的中心，也是校園與社區互動的連接點，老樟樹場域提供了教學、休憩、藝術與人文、人際互動等種種創造共同成長記憶的功能。
目前高雄市列管的珍貴樹木中，以「白千層」占最多約近三成，其次為榕樹，雨豆樹則居第三；樹齡最大的是位於楠梓區藍昌路的榕樹，約300年。
對於高雄市所列管的珍貴樹木，有任何需要協助，可逕洽建設局第三科專線：07-3373162。