Desperate fight in Italy to save the “Patriarch”, a thousand-year-old olive tree

Italy is decided save the “Patriarch”, a millennial olive tree devoured by the fires that broke out this week on the island of Sardinia, and mobilized experts to revitalize a rare example of botanical antiquity.

“El Patriarca”, a wild olive tree with a trunk about 10 meters in circumference and a height of 16 and a half meters, he was completely devoured by the fires.

However, hope remains that he survives, botanist Gianluigi Bacchetta told the Italian agency. AGI.

“The Patriarch will be able to survive, he will be mutilated and reduced to a minimum, but the left side still seems vital and the providential intervention of the firefighters had an effect, “he explained.

The fires devoured thousands of hectares of forest in Sardinia and the flames reached the town of Cuglieri, in the center-north of the island, where the tree is located, among the oldest on the island.

A tree of which there are no others

Sa Tanca Manne, as it is actually called, the patriarch is registered under this name on the list of monumental trees of Italy of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies.

“It’s a kind of oleaster that it does not exist anymore“, explained Ignazio Camarda, professor of botany in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Sassari.

“Its mighty trunk is hidden by the huge crumbling foliage, the trunks are still burning, it is covered with a layer of very hot ash, the stump is still burning with a bright flame. It is impossible to do anything. “Camarda told Facebook after visiting the region two days ago.

“I believe that hope part is still vital“, he underlined.

The Patriarca fire is considered an environmental tragedy, for which firefighters have been mobilized, who are trying to lower the temperature of the ground in order to determine the conditions in which the olive tree was left.

A group of experts has been invited to the island to establish if it is possible and how to save the patriarch.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the region they take turns looking at the tree and prevent bystanders from approaching, as stepping on them and stepping on the surrounding ground can ruin the roots and trunks.

There are centuries-old olive trees all over the Mediterranean, both in Italy, Greece and Spain.

In general, they are very monumental and beautiful. Among the most famous of Sardinia is the wild olive tree of Luras, perhaps the “Matusalem” of European olive trees, since the estimate made on his age gives 4000 years old.

Firefighters continue to work in the area to put out the first fires and clean up areas, despite temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and gusts of wind fueling the flames.

AFP Agency.

GML