Future Forests of Champion Trees?

Record holders have a particular fascination; superlatives of the plant world are no exception. Since 1940, American Forests, an environmental advocacy group, has published a list of the largest known specimens of native tree species in the country - the National Register of Big Trees. Groups from all over the US and the world hold annual searches for the biggest trees in their areas, and work to preserve them. Around ten years ago, tree farmers David and Jared Milarch, founded the Champion Tree Project - to clone and plant trees chosen as state or national champions.

Superior or unique examples of tree species are often propagated by cloning, to preserve their genetic make-up. No one can be sure if champion trees achieved phenomenal growth due to environmental or genetic factors, but the Champion Tree Project is guessing that the latter, likely played a substantial role in the trees' success.

The ambitious project has set up "archival living libraries" of the cloned trees in different climates, for preservation and research. The organization partners with tree owners (both private and public) and large-scale nurseries to produce and market champion tree clones. Champion trees have proved their ability to endure and adapt to environmental stress, they may prove to be very tolerant of modern urban environments.

Links:

• Champion Tree Project International the website of the Champion Tree Project International


• Champion Trees the champion tree pages of The Earth Renewal and Restoration Alliance. Photos and descriptions of champion trees can be found in the Photo Gallery


• National Register of Big Trees from American Forests


• Tree general information on trees, with a good section on champion trees from Wikipedia


• Group to Clone "Champion" Trees of Lewis and Clark from National Geographic


• The Tree Register of Great Britain website of The Tree Register of Great Britain


• The Tallest Trees in the World This webpage proposes that until recently the tallest trees in the world, were in Australia. (No author listed.)


• Garden With Most Number Of World's Tallest Trees from the Guinness World Book of records. (I couldn't pass up this tidbit.)

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 11:46 AM on November 17, 2005