Veteran Tree Management and Protection: The Great Mulberry in Cervia - Fabio Ascarini

Veteran trees have great ecological value but above all are a cultural phenomenon. Veteran trees’ management cannot be limited to the arboricultural aspects; it must extend to the anthropological and social reasons that justify their existence. The Emilia-Romagna region has defined laws for veteran trees’ protection, management, and enhancement. The Great Mulberry (Morus alba L.) of Cervia is an emblematic case of management of a veteran tree in full compliance with the law’s principles, and it is discussed by Fabio Ascarini in the presentation accompanying this CEU. More than ten years ago, after the tree experienced severe structural failures, the Municipality of Cervia decided to implement a program for the tree’s recovery, including rooting site protection, root activity promotion, implementation of a support and cabling system, and a long-term pruning plan. The mulberry tree, which can now be said to have been brought back to a condition of ordinary management, has become an emblematic case study, so much so that it has been included in training programs.
Spanish subtitles made possible through a grant from the USDA Forest Service.