Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China has outlined its approach to supporting biodiversity protection at COP30 in Belém, highlighting the use of insurance and technology to address challenges in safeguarding ancient and notable trees in China.
The programme, which the insurer calls “Ancient Tree Guardian Action”, seeks to integrate insurance coverage, digital monitoring systems, and emergency response mechanisms into a unified conservation model.
China has about 5.08 million ancient trees, many of which face threats from climate change, pest outbreaks and limited funding for preservation. However, traditional underwriting methods require extensive inspections and long-term monitoring, placing pressure on insurers’ resources.
Ping An said it introduced an “Insurance + Technology” model that applies big data, artificial intelligence and IoT to assess tree condition, location and historical risk factors.
The system is intended to shift insurance from post-disaster compensation towards prevention and early intervention. It includes 24/7 monitoring using sensors to track soil moisture, air quality and tree health, with real-time data uploaded to a cloud-based platform for analysis and alerts.
The insurer also uses its proprietary “EagleX” system to monitor extreme weather events such as typhoons and floods and issue warnings when hazards are detected.
The programme was first implemented in Guangdong in 2023 and has since been extended nationwide. As of October 2025, it had provided more than 700 million yuan (around US$98.8m) in protection for over 55,000 ancient and notable trees across China.
