Ancient trees, as living relics of ecological and cultural heritage, play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and connecting communities to their natural history. In Hainan Province, China, a tropical island renowned for its rich flora, many tree species face threats from urbanization, climate change and a lack of public awareness about their ecological significance. To address this, the popular science project Protecting Ancient Trees and Sharing Green Mountains and Clear Waters, approved and funded by the Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (grant no. KPHD202505), has been launched to foster conservation awareness among local communities, with a particular focus on rural primary and secondary school students.

Since the project’s inception in March 2025, our team has lectured across multiple locations in Hainan Province, sharing with students, teachers and rural residents the importance of preserving ancient trees. These sessions, delivered in Mandarin and occasionally in local dialects such as Hainanese, have reached over 500 students and 100 community members. The lectures cover topics such as the ecological roles of ancient trees—carbon sequestration, habitat provision and soil stabilization—their cultural significance in Hainan’s history, and the threats they face, including deforestation and neglect. By tailoring content to resonate with rural audiences, we have boosted local awareness of biodiversity conservation.

To make these efforts engaging and memorable, we produced educational materials, including brochures detailing the value of ancient trees and practical conservation tips, as well as reusable cloth bags and key chains inscribed with slogans such as ‘Protect Ancient Trees, Cherish Green Mountains.’ These items were distributed during prize-winning quizzes in which participants answered questions about tree species, their benefits and ways to protect them.

The Protecting Ancient Trees and Sharing Green Mountains and Clear Waters initiative has not only heightened awareness but also inspired actionable steps towards conservation. For instance, students at a rural school in Danzhou launched a small monitoring programme to track the health of local ancient trees, reporting findings to forestry officials. Our materials have also been shared with regional environmental organizations, amplifying the project’s reach.

This initiative demonstrates the power of combining education, community engagement and interactive activities to safeguard Hainan’s ancient trees. We aim to expand the programme to more remote areas and to develop partnerships with local governments to integrate ancient tree protection into broader environmental policies.