SCHOOLS are being given the chance to make a little bit of history – by giving their name to a new species of tree.

A University of York conservationist discovered the new species of tropical tree while exploring in East Africa, and is inviting schools to name it.

Senior lecturer Dr Andy Marshall, who is also Director of Conservation Science at Flamingo Land, found the tree in a remote forest in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania.

He has set up the Schools for Forests campaign to encourage schools and colleges to fundraise for the university’s efforts to save tropical forests through innovative research.

The school or college that raises the most will have the new 20-metre tall tree species named after them.

Those who raise more than £1000 will be twinned with a school in Tanzania, and invited to an awards ceremony and activity day at Flamingo Land.

Other rewards such as t-shirts will be given to those who raise over £50, and all schools signing up for the Schools for Forests competition will receive teaching resources tailored for the primary and secondary curriculum.

Dr Marshall said: “In June 2011 I was surveying with the aim of understanding the habitat needs of one of the world’s rarest primates, the kipunji monkey. However, in several of my forest plots there was a tree that I just couldn’t identify.

“Soon afterwards, while idly rummaging through dried specimens at the National Museums of Kenya, it turned out that this was an entirely new species from the genus Polyceratocarpus. The tree grows as large as an oak tree, so I was amazed to find that scientists had not named it before.”

Schools and individuals can register their interest by emailing info@circle-conservation.org and more information can be found at circle-conservation.org/conservation/schoolsforforests/