Located in Yang Lanh village’s cultural house in Krong Na commune, the tree’s scientific name is Ficus Religiosa L from the Moraceae mulberry family. The nine-trunk tree is 29 metres in height and 2.7 metres in diameter, while its leaf canopy covers nearly 30 square metres.
According to the elderly, the tree was planted by a Lao monk and raised by Y Thua, a local man in the village.
Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak provincial People’s Committee, BHam Enuol, said that the acknowledgement of the tree is an honour and source of pride for ethnic communities in the village and of Dak Lak province in general.
He called on local residents to protect and promote the tree to visitors to the village.
Earlier, the tree was recognised as the oldest plant in the Central Highlands region by the Asia Book of Records in March, 2014. It is also the fourth tree to be listed as heritage tree in Dak Lak province.
The title was granted by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) under a programme to conserve Vietnam Heritage Trees launched in 2011. The programme aims to raise public awareness of biodiversity preservation and development, particularly rare plants across the country.
