Heritage tress in Jiaozuo, Henan Province

The dataset entitled “Heritage Trees in Jiaozuo, Henan Province” was generated through a systematic field survey of registered heritage trees in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, China. Data were collected by trained survey teams using standard forestry measurement tools, including measuring tapes for tree circumference, laser rangefinders for tree height and crown spread, and GPS devices for geolocation. Each tree was examined and recorded in situ to ensure accuracy, with follow-up verification of species identification based on botanical references and expert consultations. Data processing involved standardizing species names, cross-checking protection classifications against official records, and formatting the dataset into a tabular structure for subsequent analysis.The dataset covers heritage trees within Jiaozuo City and provides spatial information at the district level. Geographic coordinates (longitude and latitude) were recorded with a spatial resolution sufficient for site-level mapping, generally within ±10 meters accuracy depending on GPS conditions. Temporal information is associated with the “Years” field, which indicates either the estimated or documented age of the tree in years. The dataset reflects the status of trees at the time of survey (most recently updated in 2020).The table consists of multiple records, each corresponding to one individual tree or a small group of co-occurring trees (indicated by the “Tree count” field). Each record contains the following columns:Tree No.: Unique identifier assigned to each heritage tree.Chinese name: Vernacular name of the species in Chinese.Family & Genus: Taxonomic classification at family and genus levels.Protection level: Legal or administrative classification of heritage tree protection.Years: Estimated or documented age of the tree (years).Tree height (m): Height of the tree measured in meters.Circumference (cm): Trunk circumference measured at standard breast height, in centimeters.Crown (m): Crown width (canopy spread) measured in meters.Growth status: Qualitative description of tree health and vitality.Location: Description of the specific site where the tree is located (e.g., village, temple, roadside).Habitat type: Type of surrounding environment (e.g., urban park, rural landscape, temple grounds).District: Administrative district within Jiaozuo where the tree is found.Longitude / Latitude: Geospatial coordinates recorded in decimal degrees.Tree count: Number of individual trees if more than one occurs together (e.g., twin trees).Measurement units are explicitly provided where applicable (meters, centimeters, years). For categorical descriptors such as growth status and habitat type, entries are qualitative and standardized for comparability.Some records may have missing values, particularly where tree age could not be precisely determined or where GPS reception was limited. In such cases, fields are left blank or annotated with standard placeholders. Potential errors may arise from measurement limitations (e.g., tree height estimation in dense canopy conditions) or from natural variability in tree form, but overall measurement uncertainty is minimal and within standard forestry survey tolerances.The dataset is stored in a widely used tabular format (CSV/Excel), compatible with common software such as Microsoft Excel, R, and Python (pandas). This ensures accessibility and ease of integration into further ecological, conservation, or spatial analyses. No specialized or proprietary software is required to use the dataset.This dataset provides a comprehensive inventory of heritage trees in Jiaozuo, Henan Province, with both biological and spatial attributes, offering a valuable foundation for ecological research, cultural heritage conservation, and urban planning initiatives.