The "world's oldest tree" title has a new contender in Chile. Environmental scientist Jonathan Barichivich has presented his findings regarding an alerce tree in Alerce Costero National Park to the dendrochronology community. He claims to have found the oldest tree in the world.
Although he has not published a study regarding his findings, he plans to do so in the coming months. In the meantime, Barichivich has been sharing his findings in different meetings and conferences.
Meet Gran Abuelo: The World's Oldest Tree
Barichivich named the tree Alerce Milenario, affectionately known as Gran Abuelo or Great-Grandpa, and suggests it could be around 5,400 years old, Science reported. The Patagonian cypress has survived fires and logging and grew to become one of the largest trees inside the park, eventually increasing to more than 13 feet (3.9 meters) in diameter.
The scientist is well acquainted with the tree, given that he grew up in and around the park as both of his parents were park rangers. But it was only recently that he began a serious study on the tree, which involved non-destructive care sampling to count the tree's growth rings.
The method is considered the gold standard for determining the age of a tree, Phys.org reported. However, the tree was so thick that the drilling device could not penetrate all the way and only got a partial county. So, he decided to collect core samples from other younger trees in the same vicinity.
From the information he took from the core samples of Alerce Milenario and other core samples, along with environmental data, he then used statistical modeling to estimate the age of the tree. Barichivich created a model that he used to estimate the number of rings that likely formed in the inner parts of the core that were missing.
The model suggests that the tree is likely 5,484 years old, which breaks the record of the bristlecone pine growing in California, which is about 4,853 years old.
Barichivich plans to continue studying the tree's features to get a full core sample to confirm his findings. He urges the government to put stronger protections on a truly historical specimen.
What Species is Gran Abuelo?
IFL Science reported that Alerce Milenario or Gran Abuelo is a Patagonian cypress (Fitzroya cupressoides). It is a conifer native to Chile and Argentina and is also called the "redwood of the south" because its huge size and old age represent its resilience to the forces of time.
The tree is thought to be the largest tree in South America, given that it can grow up to 229 feet (70 meters) tall and reach up to 5 meters (16 feet) in trunk diameter. Unfortunately, the tree has become the most threatened conifer in Chile due to rampant logging and tourism in the area.
Barichivich's grandfather first discovered the tree in the 1970s in the park, where many of his family members have worked as rangers. They saw how human activity is drastically causing adverse effects on the once-pristine ecosystem. He hopes that his ongoing work will push the government to protect the tree and its rapidly changing environment.
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