Big Tree in Chirinda Forest

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Big Tree in Chirinda Forest
Big Tree in Chirinda Forest
Location Zimbabwe
Height 65
Diameter4.5

Big Tree (or The Big Tree in Chirinda Forest) is the tallest native or indigenous tree in Zimbabwe, and a declared National Monument. The tree is 65 metres tall and 4.5 metres wide, [1] while its age is approximately 1,000 years. [2] The tree is located in the centre of the Chirinda Forest (formerly known as Selinda, from the Mount Selinda Mission School of the same name) in the southeast of Zimbabwe at the southernmost part of the country's Eastern Highlands. Big Tree is a Khaya anthotheca or Nyasa redwood tree (previously referred to as Khaya nyasica). In December 1986, it was 65 metres tall [1] and 5.25 metres wide. The trunk is very heavily buttressed at the base, which makes measuring difficult.

Contents

Conservation

Big Tree is protected within the Chirinda Forest Botanical Reserve, administered by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Estate. There has been concern about damage from people carving their initials into it. The tree is dying, indicated by its declining height and the loss of its topmost branches. Whether it is due to human damage or a natural process is unknown.

Other tall Khaya trees in Zimbabwe

Khaya anthotheca is a beautiful species of great importance. Specimens planted in urban areas, particularly Harare and Mutare have achieved massive size and height and often threaten buildings. [3] They are not protected on private land in Zimbabwe.[ citation needed ]

Large great trees are notable in older suburbs like Avondale and Greendale. In Mutare, a site near the Botanical Gardens has a row of 26 giant trees in various states of health. In many places, the trees are home to hundreds of epiphytic orchids and are a favourite vantage perch for many species of large birds, including the augur buzzard, bat hawks, pied crows, and silvery-cheeked hornbills.[ citation needed ]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Spriggs, Amy. "Zimbabwe, Mozambique: Montane grasslands and shrublands". worldwildlife.org. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  2. "Chirinda Forest". Sites - Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). BirdLife International. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. Mullin, L. J. (2003). Historic trees of Zimbabwe. Bath: CBC Pub. ISBN   978-0951520963.

Coordinates: 20°26′29″S32°42′15″E / 20.44139°S 32.70417°E / -20.44139; 32.70417 (Big Tree)