strongBaird Tropy - 2017 Black amp; White Print of the Year - Camera Club of Ottawa/strongbr/ br/ CCO Award of Excellence, 2016/17 - Category: Bamp;W Openbr/br/ Date of Photograph: April 20, 2016br/ Location: Ostuni, Italybr/ br/ There are an estimated 10 million olive trees growing in the Puglia region of southern Italy. This specimen is located at the Masseria Brancati near Ostuni. Carbon dating indicates that trees in this grove are between 2000 and 2500 years old and that some may have been planted in pre-Roman times. Olives are still harvested from this tree.br/ br/ Trees of this vintage, considered natural monuments in Italy, are tagged with a small metal registration plate that allows them to be tracked by satellite. Nobody can uproot, cut, or sell one of these trees without permission. Before this program was implemented, ancient trees were being cut and shipped world wide to serve as sculptural elements in the gardens of weatlhy clients.