Tree Heritage Projects in Switzerland and Italy Showcase Preservation

Landscape architect Enzo Eneache founded the Enea Tree Museum in Rapperswil‑Jona, near Lake Zurich, Switzerland, in 2010. The museum preserves around fifty trees, including several monumental specimens, using an innovative transplanting technique that allows large trees to be relocated. About 90 % of the trees originate from the Lake Zurich region, with a minority sourced from other areas such as Japan.

In Italy, the Ministry of Agriculture has updated the national register of monumental trees, adding 82 new entries. The list includes ancient specimens such as the Castagno dei Cento Cavalli on Etna, the millennial Olivastro of Sardinia, and the Quercia delle Streghe in Tuscany. These trees are protected for their exceptional biological, landscape and ecological value and are recognized as living cultural landmarks.

Both initiatives reflect a growing emphasis on preserving historic and ecological tree heritage across Europe.