The tree is 1,000 years old, and its savior just 13.

Shuangyi Middle School first-grade student Wu Xiaoru has become Shanghai's latest "teengreen" by writing an essay on how to protect an old gingko tree, one of the eight such trees in the city.

A resident of Zhoupu Town in Shanghai's Nanhui District, Wu researched the old tree before writing the essay.

Experts are now working on a detailed plan to better protect the tree, and the Nanhui District administration has already pulled down two buildings because Wu said they could endanger the life of the tree.

Her essay, which also suggested lightning rods be installed nearby to save the tree, won the first prize in the science composition contest in Nanhui District.

Wu's physics teacher, Ma Yuanlu, who helped her write the essay, then convinced her to forward her suggestions to the Nanhui District officials.

Wu listed her suggestions in a letter to the officials. The letter contained her research report too.

Plain wishes

But despite her achievement, Wu is humble, saying: "I feel very honored to have a 1,000-old tree in my hometown, and I hope to see it grow taller and greener.

"That's why I put forward several immature suggestions to the officials and experts."

But she didn't expect the officials or experts to respond to her letter. So she was pleasantly surprised when she received a reply from the Nanhui District officials and when experts began discussing her suggestions.

Shanghai Landscaping Administrative Bureau official Cheng Min said: "The Nanhui District government demolished the two buildings near the gingko tree."

Experts on ancient tree conservation and local officials are discussing how to install the lightning rods, and may do so in the next two weeks, according to the bureau.

"A lightning rod transmits electricity from one spot to another so apart from the tree we have to consider the safety of other facilities and pedestrians, too," he said.

Despite Nanhui having less sources of revenue than other districts, it will make every effort to protect its old trees, Cheng said.

(China Daily January 17, 2007)