Big Tree in Chirinda Forest

Big Tree (or The Big Tree in Chirinda Forest) is the tallest native or indigenous tree in Zimbabwe, and a declared National Monument. The tree is 65 m tall and measures 4.5 m in diameter,[1] while its age is estimated at 1,000 years or over.[2] This impressive tree is growing in the centre of the Chirinda Forest (formerly known as Selinda, from the Mount Selinda Mission School of the same name) in the south east of Zimbabwe at the southernmost part of the country's Eastern Highlands. Big tree is a Khaya anthotheca or Nyasa redwood tree (also referred to previously as Khaya nyasica). In December 1986 it was measured at 65 metres tall[1] and 5 1/4 metres in diameter. The trunk is very heavily and hugely buttressed at the base that makes measuring difficult.

Conservation

Big tree is safe within the Chirinda Forest Botanical Reserve, administered by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Estate. There has been concern about damage from people carving their initials into them. The tree is dying, indicated by its declining height and the loss of topmost branches. Whether it is due to human damage or a natural process is unknown.

Other tall Khaya trees in Zimbabwe

Khaya anthotheca is a beautiful species of great importance. Specimens planted in urban areas particularly Harare and Mutare have achieved massive size and height and often threaten buildings.[3] They are not protected on private land in Zimbabwe.

Huge great trees are noted in older suburbs like Avondale and Greendale. In Mutare, a site near the Botanical Gardens has a row of 26 giant trees in various states of health. In many places, the trees are home to hundreds of epiphytic orchids, and are a favourite vantage perch for many species of large birds including augur buzzard, bat hawks, pied crows, and silvery-cheeked hornbills.

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References
  1. Spriggs, Amy. "Zimbabwe, Mozambique: Montane grasslands and shrublands". worldwildlife.org. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  2. "Chirinda Forest". Sites - Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). BirdLife International. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. Mullin, L. J. (2003). Historic trees of Zimbabwe. Bath: CBC Pub. ISBN 978-0951520963.

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