MAKHACHKALA, May 19 – RIA Dagestan. Voting has opened on the website of the All-Russian program "Trees – Living Nature Monuments" to select Russia's most notable tree, with Dagestan's 450-year-old Koch's pine from the village of Verkhny Katrukh (Rutulsky District) among the 78 nominees.
According to Sergei Palchikov, the Program Curator and Chairman of the Certification Commission, ancient trees are unique representatives of the plant world that preserve centuries of history, connect generations, and constitute part of Russia's national heritage.
The competition runs until August 1, and anyone can vote for their favorite nominee from various Russian regions. The leadership of the region whose tree wins first place will receive a diploma and a certificate for a professional examination and revitalization of the tree, to be carried out by certified European Tree Worker specialists from the Center for Tree Expertise "Healthy Forest".