Cultural Diversity Contributions of Conserving Old Trees in Human Settlements: Jingxi Case, China

Cultural diversity holds an irreplaceable ecological value in biodiversity conservation. Jingxi is a county-level city in Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. In Jingxi, where the Zhuang ethnic group accounts for 99.4% of the population, a symbiotic relationship has developed between its unique ethnic culture and ecological environment. According to the 2017 census of old trees (OTs) in Jingxi, a total of 1361 OTs were recorded, of which 63.3% (865 trees) were concentrated in human settlements, including village entrances or exits, and cultivated lands, demonstrating significant spatial differentiation. This distinctive distribution pattern raises two core research questions: (1) What are the spatial distribution patterns of OTs within human settlements? (2) Do cultural factors play a significant role in OTs conservation? Therefore, an ethnobotanical study of OTs in Jingxi is necessary. The objectives of this study are to: (1) conduct a comprehensive ethnobotanical investigation of the OTs among the Zhuang people in the region; (2) summarize the environmental spaces of OTs based on their geographical locations; (3) analyze the symbolic cultural meaning associated with OTs across different environmental spaces. This study also aims to reveal conservation strategies for OTs from a cultural perspective and to integrate cultural values into biodiversity conservation, thereby providing significant insights into the mechanisms underlying cultural–ecological synergy.