Oldest Trees on the Planet

For those who missed it the first time it came out, an article about the greatest known elders of our charges, http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/old-tree-gallery/

Thanks, Robert, I HAD forgotten that. Humbling.

Alas, however, one of those trees is gone. "The Senator" pond/bald cypress in Florida was burned to the ground (reportedly by vandals) in 2011. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/mourning-the-loss-of-the-senator-a-3500-year-old-tree

The Senator fire was started by a homeless woman who was using drugs at the base of the tree and started a fire either to prepare the drugs for use or to keep warm, she has been arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced. There is an effort being made to clone the tree, but I have not heard anything recently.

Its a tragic story all around; the woman who was probably high, and made poor decisions, and the fact that this tree was situated in a park and no park personnel were around to observe her antics... Is the fact that no one was around to provide security in the park a result of budget cuts and a reduction of staff? I would be glad to pay more taxes to provide more security of our national treasures.
Todd

The Senator was not really in a "Park" it was a small area probably owned by the city or county but just a sidewalk and low fence around the tree. I am sure there was never any security.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:The Senator was not really in a "Park" it was a small area probably owned by the city or county but just a sidewalk and low fence around the tree. I am sure there was never any security.

Yes, we all think these gentle giants are more protected then they are but it often turns out they are just another tree in a park (happens everywhere) -right at the path of our short trip - sad for everything on this planet .

Indeed!