The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Nicolás Vázquez Iglesias, visited today the Oak of the Banquete de Conxo Forest, in Santiago de Compostela, for its inclusion in the Catalogue of Singular Trees. The Xunta de Galicia publishes this incorporation today in the Official Gazette of Galicia.
As explained by the minister, accompanied by the territorial delegate of the Xunta in A Coruña, Belén do Campo, the inclusion of this specimen responds to its historical and cultural values. The oak is located in the oak grove where the historic Banquete de Conxo took place on March 2, 1856, a symbolic act of equality and fraternity between students and artisans.
Vázquez Iglesias emphasized that "protecting this tree is also preserving a part of Galicia's collective memory and transmitting our legacy to future generations." The Galician catalogue of singular trees is a public tool that is constantly updated, open to proposals from owners, administrations, and entities.
The minister also highlighted the work of the Committee of Singular Trees, a consultative body composed of representatives from Galician universities, ministries, and experts, responsible for evaluating the inclusion and exclusion of specimens.
Currently, the Galician Catalogue of Singular Trees comprises a total of 207 elements (159 specimens and 48 tree formations) from 85 different species. The inclusion of specimens is based on exceptional characteristics of stature, age, rarity, historical, cultural, scientific, educational, aesthetic, or landscape interest.
