In Search of Arboreal Giants: The Virginia Big Tree Program

This presentation was given at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. In this presentation, I discussed the history and mission of the Virginia Big Tree Program and explained measurement, scoring, and registration of champion big trees.

Transcript

1. In Search of Arboreal Giants: The Virginia Big Tree Program 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 P. Eric Wiseman, PhD Associate Professor of Urban and Community Forestry Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation Virginia Tech vtuf@vt.edu linktr.ee/EricWiseman @vtarborist Chesapeake City 116’ 54’ 206” 336 pts. Nyssa biflora** uf.frec.vt.edu
2. o Mission and history of the Virginia Big Tree Program o People of the Virginia Big Tree Program o Quick tour of the Virginia Big Tree Register o Measuring and scoring big trees o Reporting big trees Bedford Co. 139’ 78’ 362” 511 pts. Liriodendron tulipifera** 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Presentation Outline
3. To promote the care and appreciation of trees – big and small Document the largest specimens in the state and provide outreach to aid in their protection and care Maclura pomifera** Charlotte Co. 65’ 93’ 328” 416 pts. Photo credit: A. Cassell 03  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Mission of the Virginia Big Tree Program
4. 03  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Mission of the Virginia Big Tree Program Why do we do this? oIt is informative and educational oIt is engaging and enjoyable oIt empirically justifies tree conservation and preservation efforts Illicium floridanum** City of Williamsburg 18’ 17’ 12” 34 pts.
5. 04  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 History of the Virginia Big Tree Program “The American Forestry Association heartily endorses the appeal by Mr. Joseph L. Stearns for the discovery and preservation of the largest specimens of outstanding American tree species.” ~ September, 1940
6. 05  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 History of the Virginia Big Tree Program Lillian M. Cromelin • Associate editor of American Forests Magazine • Created the initial program for registering big tree champions in 1940
7. 06  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 History of the Virginia Big Tree Program 1940: American Big Trees 1961: The Social Register of Big Trees 1978: The National Register of Big Trees 2014: The National Register of Champion Trees
8. History of the Virginia Big Tree Program 07  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
9. History of the Virginia Big Tree Program 08  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
10. History of the Virginia Big Tree Program 09  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
11. Big Tree Interns Big Tree Volunteers Quercus laurifolia** Chesapeake City 86’ 89’ 317” 425 pts. Lifeblood of the Virginia Big Tree Program 10  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
12. Aesculus flava** Alleghany Co. 81’ 56’ 295” 390 pts. o Register comprises a searchable online database plus an historical record archive o Currently 1,565 living specimens across 469 species are curated in the register o Currently curate the top-three* specimens of any native or non-native tree species (and verifiable sub-species and varieties) o Minimum eligible tree size: ≥ 13’ height and ≥ 9.5” trunk circumference 11  25 Tour of the Virginia Big Tree Register 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
13. o 118 counties and independent cities have 1 or more big trees in the register o Fairfax County currently has most living big trees in the register = 85 o Trees must be re-certified every ten years to remain active in the register *not all trees shown due to privacy policy 12  25 Tour of the Virginia Big Tree Register 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
14. o 88 national champions and co-champions reside in Virginia as of 2021 records o 2nd place nationally (Florida #1) o Measurement and scoring overseen by the National Cadre of Tree Measurers *not all trees shown due to privacy policy 13  25 Tour of the Virginia Big Tree Register 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
15. 14  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees 1. It’s living 2. It’s an eligible species 3. It meets minimum size 4. It’s the largest of its species 5. It’s been verified by an expert Champions: one tree with the most total points Co-Champions: two+ trees that are within 3 points or 3% of each other
16. 15  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees TRUNK CIRCUMFERENCE Composite functional circumference measurement on multi-trunk form when it is atypical for the species
17. 16  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees AVERAGE CROWN SPREAD
18. 17  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees TREE HEIGHT
19. 18  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees TREE HEIGHT
23. 22  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees
24. o Is it an eligible tree? ≥13’ height and ≥9.5” trunk circumference o Measure trunk circumference at 4.5’ above ground line*: ____(inches) o Measure tree height from ground line to highest branch: ____(feet) o Measure average crown spread (1st max. ⊥ 2nd max.): ____(feet) Measurements Circumference (1 point per inch) + Height (1 point per foot) + Crown spread (¼ point per foot) Big Tree Score Total 155 101 72 155 points 101 points 18 points 274 points Score Calculation 22  25 (80’, 64’) 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Measuring and Scoring Big Trees
25. 24  25 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022 Legacy Lost of Big Trees Quercus phellos Gloucester Co. 95’ 113’ 290” 413 pts. o Invasive pests and plants o Extreme weather o Land development o Risk aversion o Apathy and neglect o Arboricultural malpractice
26. o Virginia has a vibrant history of big trees from the Chesapeake Bay to the Cumberland Gap o The Virginia Big Tree Program aims to document the state’s largest trees and educate the public about their conservation o There is a network of dedicated staff and volunteers who can help you locate, measure, and report big trees o Spread the word about these Arboreal Giants - maybe there is one in your neck of the woods Smyth Co. 69’ 47’ 113” 194 pts. Amelanchier laevis** Take Home Messages 2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022