In order to effectively protect ancient tea trees, standardize the management and utilization of ancient tea trees, and protect biodiversity, the Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial People's Congress recently deliberated and passed the Regulations of Yunnan Province on the Protection of Ancient Tea Trees (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations), strengthening the protection of ancient tea trees in the form of local regulations. As the origin and diversity center of tea resources in the world, Yunnan Province is rich in ancient tea resources, which is of great value in culture, ecology, economy and species protection. Yunnan's wild tea tree communities, wild tea trees, ancient tea gardens and ancient tea trees are not only the "living fossil" of the origin of tea trees, the birthplace of tea domestication and large-scale planting, but also an important germplasm resource pool. The Regulations defined the ancient tea trees included in the protection scope in the administrative region of Yunnan Province from two aspects of the age of tea trees and the origin of their growth: in terms of tree age, the objects of protection are limited to trees over 100 years old; In terms of growth origin, the protected objects include wild tea trees and cultivated tea trees. The Regulations stipulate that in the protection area of ancient tea trees, those engaged in the construction, reconstruction and expansion of buildings (structures), development and construction of tourism projects, prospecting, mining, scientific research, investigation, teaching practice, film and television shooting, should go through relevant procedures according to law and take effective protection measures to avoid damage to ancient tea trees. The Regulations prohibit six kinds of acts that endanger ancient tea trees and their growth environment: cutting and transplanting ancient tea trees without authorization; Carve, break branches, dig roots and peel ancient tea trees; Use growth regulators and chemical herbicides that harm ancient tea trees within the protection scope of ancient tea trees; Destroy the associated trees within the protection scope of ancient tea trees or plant economic trees and crops that affect the growth of ancient tea trees; Digging sand, quarrying stone, taking earth, using open fire, discharging waste gas and water, dumping and stacking waste residue within the protection area of ancient tea trees; Unauthorized removal or destruction of ancient tea tree protection signs or tags. In terms of scientific utilization of ancient tea resources, the Regulations encourage and support scientific research institutions, colleges and universities and enterprises to carry out research and utilization of ancient tea germplasm resources according to law, and cultivate new and excellent tea varieties; Encourage and support the creation of ancient tea tree product brands with independent intellectual property rights, make rational use of ancient tea tree resources, cultivate the industrial chain of ancient tea tree resources, and enhance the market competitiveness of products. (Reporter Xu Xinyu, Zhang Yong)