YEP! ya right about that Pup. In the south of Italy they have become protected too. There is a huge racket run where heavy digging equip is takin into the hills to rip these ancient beauties out, so as the crooked and wealthy can have them in their gardens. I can only hope that what was once my Grand fathers tree is still there.
I got tired waiting for the upload but even scanning the hazy small images... staggering. I can see a positive aspect to it, trees that could have been neglected could now be cherished, but on the other hand it seems like robbing heritage to give some moneyed person a chance to expand his chest a bit more. Another rape of our fair planet. But I would think that some of these trees were rescued from proposed developments so there is definitely a positive side.