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
   

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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
   

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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
   

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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.
   

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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
   

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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
   

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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
   

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8. History of the Virginia Big Tree Program
   07  25
   2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
   

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9. History of the Virginia Big Tree Program
   08  25
   2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
   

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10. History of the Virginia Big Tree Program
    09  25
    2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
    

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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
    

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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
    

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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
    

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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
    

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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
    

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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
    

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17. 16  25
    2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
    Measuring and Scoring Big Trees
    AVERAGE CROWN SPREAD
    

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18. 17  25
    2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
    Measuring and Scoring Big Trees
    TREE HEIGHT
    

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19. 18  25
    2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
    Measuring and Scoring Big Trees
    TREE HEIGHT
    

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23. 22  25
    2022 MAC-ISA ANNUAL MEETING • RICHMOND, VA • OCTOBER 3, 2022
    Measuring and Scoring Big Trees
    

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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
    

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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
    

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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
    

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