보호수는 역사와 전통을 간직한 자원으로 우리의 소중한 자산이자 보호관리하여 대대로 물려주어야 할 자연유산이다. 보호수는 수목으로 육종학적, 유전학적인 의미를 가짐과 동시에 환경적, 정서적 의미를 가지며, 그 가치를 높게 평가할 수 있다. 본 연구는 제천시 보호수의 생육환경 및 관리현황을 조사하여 개선방안을 모색하고자 식물학적 특성, 입지현황, 건강도, 토양특성, 근원부 성상, 관리현황 등을 조사하였다. 제천시 보호수는 300 이상의 수령이 가장 많았으며, 평탄지에 주로 위치하였다. 입지유형은 마을형, 동산형, 도로형의 순이었으며, 개발 정도는 건물지가 가장 많았다. 형성층 전기저항 측정치는 평균 $8.4k{Omega}$로 나타났으며, 4그루에서 수피이탈 현상이 있었다. 대부분의 보호수에서는 외과수술이 실시되어 있었고, 근원부성상에서 완전 나지화가 된 곳은 1그루로, 근원부위에 콘크리트로 포장된 곳은 2곳으로 조사되었다. 토양산도는 5.0~8.4의 범위로 평균 7.1로, 전기전도도 EC는 0.5dS/m 이하로 측정되었다. 보호책은 총 48그루 중에서 16그루만 설치되어 있었으며, 석축이 설치된 곳은 3곳이었다. 외과수술이 시행된 곳은 총 33그루로 대부분이 공동의 부패부위방지 및 치료인 것으로 추측되며, 안내판은 23그루에 설치된 것으로 조사되었다.
Law-protected trees are our precious asset as natural resources with history and tradition and natural heritage which should be protected and maintained well to bequeath next generation. Law-protected trees have not only thremmatologic and genetic meaning but also environmental and emotional meaning for their value to be high. This study investigated location, vitality, wrapping condition of root area and status of maintenance of the trees to figure out their growth environment and status of maintenance in a small-middle city through survey on those of law-protected trees in Je-cheon. There showed 300 more year old trees in Je-cheon mostly and the number of trees located in flat fields was the highest. For location type, village, hill and road types were presented in the order and for degree of development, land for building was found most frequently. The average electric resistance of the formative layer was measured to be $8.4k{Omega}$ and four trees showed bark separation. Most law-protected trees underwent tree surgery, and complete bareness of root area was observed in a tree. The root area of two trees was covered with concrete. pH of soil was recorded to be 5.0~8.4 with its average of 7.1 and electric conductivity(EC) was less than 0.5 dS/m. For status of maintenance rearing facilities were placed for 16 trees out of totally 48 ones and stone fence was done for three ones. Tree surgery was conducted for 33 trees to prevent and to treat decomposed parts of holes. Direction boards were installed for 23 trees. Based on these results, measures to manage systematically law-protected trees in Jecheon could be suggested as follows. First, a sufficient space for growth of low part of trees should be secured. Second, a voluntary management should be induced by advertising them to residents in a community. Third, rearing facilities and direction boards of law-protected trees should be placed and related education should be conducted. Fourth, through operation of the department for law-protected trees consisting of related professions and cooperation among related departments the trees should be maintained continuously.
