TEHRAN – National Tree Planting Day will be held in the historical site of Taq-e Bostan in Kermanshah province on Saturday.

Simultaneously with the ceremony, the 604th symbolic birthday celebration of the old tree of the historical complex will be held with the presence of officials and environmental activists.
According to Miras Aria, Head of Kermanshah Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Kiumars Azami said that the ceremony will be held in cooperation with  Kermanshah Natural Resources and Watershed Management Department,  Kermanshah Department of Environmental,  environmental NGOs and Kermanshah Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department, and its goal is to promote the culture of environmental protection and preservation of natural and historical heritage.
Emphasizing the special importance of the program, he said: “One of the prominent parts of this ritual is the symbolic celebration of the 604th birthday of the old tree of the Taq-e Bostan historical complex, which, as one of the valuable natural elements of this area, has a special place among the people and lovers of cultural heritage and the environment.”
He stated: “In addition to its natural value, this old tree is considered part of the historical identity and cultural landscape of the Taq-e Bostan complex, and its protection is a symbol of attention to the link between natural and historical heritage.”
Azami said: “Holding such rituals plays an important role in increasing public awareness, strengthening a sense of social responsibility, and attracting public participation in the protection of cultural heritage and natural resources, and we hope that with the support of public institutions and organizations, we will witness the continuation of these programs in the coming years.”

A centuries-old tree known as ‘Rahmat’, also referred to as ‘Shirin and Farhad’, stands tall near the famed Taq-e Bostan in western Iran, a local official announced last July.

Mohammad Mehdi Feiz Aghaei, who presides over Taq-e Bostan’s national base, named the Rahmat tree as the oldest tree located in the historical site, adding: “Fortunately, there are documents, photographs, and historical narratives concerning the long-lived creature.”

Stating that Rahmat tree is the most famous and beloved tree among the people of Kermanshah, he mentioned: “Some people of Kermanshah call this tree Shirin and Farhad and believe that this tree was planted as a memorial to Shirin.”

He added: “However, most people of Kermanshah call this tree the Rahmat tree, and there are two narratives regarding this naming: One is that in the popular literature of this city, the plane tree is a symbol of mercy and fertility, because it is green most of the time throughout the year and even in the autumn when its leaves fall, its trunk remains green. For this reason, the people of Kermanshah consider the Rahmat tree a symbol of fertility and mercy for themselves.”

Feiz Aghaei noted: In another narration, it is said that in ancient times, a person named Rahmat set up a small shoe shop or coffee house in a large hole inside the trunk of this tree and made a living through this, which is why people call this tree the Rahmat tree.

Stating that the Rahmat tree was registered in Iran's National Heritage List in 2010, he added that this tree is the only nationally registered natural monument within the Taq-e Bostan area.

Referring to the large hole inside the trunk of this tree, the director of the Taq Bostan National Park stated: “In the past years, a restoration phase has been carried out on this tree, and in the past months, we have requested experts from registration of the country's natural heritage list to travel to Kermanshah and provide us with their expert opinions on restoring this tree.” 

He continued: “To protect this old tree, we implement conservation plans every year, such as stabilizing the tissue inside the tree, pruning excess parts, continuous fertilization, removing excess elements at the bottom of the tree, etc.” 

Stating that in addition to the Rahmat tree, there are many other old and thick trees inside the Taq-e Bostan area, Feyz Aghaei said: “Most of the trees are from the 1940s, which were planted by the mayor at the time inside the Taq-e Bostan area, and have become large and thick trees due to the suitable soil and good weather conditions of Taq-e Bostan site.”

KD