Why We Should Deeply Respect Ancient Trees

Many of us pass a huge, old tree every day without even noticing it. What we consider to be just a part of the natural landscape is actually an ancient being that we should treat with the utmost respect.

Ancient trees are some of the minority of living beings that have witnessed hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of years of history in their lifetime. If trees could talk, they could tell us so many things.

There are many examples of truly ancient trees in the world. The Bristlecone Pine named Methuselah, found in White Mountain, California, is the tree with the largest confirmed age in the world. This tree 

This beautiful, twisted tree survives in an isolated mountain range where harsh winds, thin soils, and cold temperatures prevent any competition from faster-growing species.

The tree is named after the figure in the Abrahamic religions, who is claimed to have lived the longest life of 969 years.

From Methuselah (the oldest living tree in the world) to older trees that now stand in remains (such as Prometheus, over 4,900 years old), there are many examples of the oldest ancient trees in the world.