40 champs in Ga. among 733 on National Register of Big Trees

Georgia’s national champion Village Sentinel live oak stands alone at the pinnacle of its species in the 2008-2009 National Register of Big Trees after besting a Louisiana co-champ that had reigned since 1976.

Georgia has 40 titleholders among the 733 trees crowned as national champions in the 2008-2009 National Register of Big Trees.

The biennial listing of the largest known trees of 826 species is maintained by American Forests, the nation’s oldest conservation group, and sponsored by The Davey Tree Expert Company.

A new rule that trees must be remeasured within 10 years to remain on the list caused the most sweeping changes in the Register’s 68-year history.

Eighteen of Georgia’s champs were new this year; nationwide there were 219 new champs and co-champs in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wyoming had no champs at all.

American Forests relies on public participation to find and nominate champion trees; the nominations are then verified by state coordinators and the list updated every two years. Trees receive a point total based on their height, circumference, and one-quarter of their crown spread. Trees within 5 points become co-champions.

When the Georgia tree, at the Baptist River retirement community in Waycross, was remeasured, it had grown enough to exceed the 5 points that stood between it and the Seven Sisters live oak in Lewisburg, Louisiana. The live oak is Georgia’s state tree.

Among Georgia’s other notable trees: a 315-point Eastern hemlock in Towns and a 318-point co-champion southern magnolia in Clay County, both new this year; a 493-point southern red oak in Upson; and a 278-point pitch pine in White County.

The biggest of the big trees on this year’s list is again California’s General Sherman giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park—Earth’s largest living thing and a perennial champ since the first Register in 1940. Standing 274 feet tall with a girth of 1,020 inches and a crown spread of 107 feet, it racks up a point total of 1,321.

The smallest big tree is a Geyer willow on Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona, which stands 13 feet tall with a girth of just 10 inches and a crown spread of 14 feet for a total of 27 points. It’s the first time a Geyer willow has ever been nominated to the Register.

Information about all the champions can be found at American Forests’ website, www.americanforests.org. Download interesting trivia about the champs, a description of how to measure a tree, a nomination form for new champs, and e-mailable postcards. You also can check out the list of 189 species that are currently without a national champion.

Plant a future champion

Not all trees can hold the “biggest” title for their species but they’re all champs when it comes to helping the environment.

Trees — especially big trees — provide more cooling shade and more places for wildlife to perch and nest. They sequester more carbon dioxide, trap more pollutants, and clean more of the air and water.

For just $1 each, American Forests’ Global ReLeaf Forests program will plant trees where they’re needed most—in forests damaged by wildfire, weather, and man.

Grow your own champion

Give your yard the royal touch — plant a tree with champion bloodlines. American Forests’ Historic Tree Nursery sells the progeny of trees connected to famous people, events, and places. Among those trees: the offspring of two Texas state champs — a bur oak and an Eve’s necklace — and a former champion crape myrtle. To see a list of all available trees, visit www.historictrees.org.

Big facts about big trees

From American Forests’ 2008-2009 National Register of Big Trees

GENERAL FACTS

Total number of champions and co-champions: 733

Number of new national champion trees since the 2006 Register: 219

Number of species without a national champ: 189

Biggest champ overall: Giant Sequoia “General Sherman” (1,321 points), Sequoia National Park, CA

Smallest champ overall: Geyer Willow (27 points), Fort Apache Indian Reservation, AZ

Biggest new champ: Sycamore (577 points), Ashland, OH

Smallest new champ: Geyer Willow (27 points), Fort Apache Indian Reservation, AZ

Biggest new conifer: 548-point Ponderosa Pine from Trinity, CA

Biggest new broadleaf: Sycamore (577 points), Ashland, OH

Biggest circumference on a new champ: Northern California Walnut (444 inches), El Dorado, CA

Tallest new champ: Ponderosa Pine (240 feet), Trinity, CA

Biggest crown spread on a new champ: Pignut Hickory (142 feet), Allen, KY

States with the most champs: Arizona (94), Florida (86), California (82), Texas (72), and Virginia (56)

States without a champion: Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wyoming

State with the most new champs: Virginia (37)

Notable new champs:

• Sweetgum was absent from the 2006 Register and there was fierce competition to find a new champ. 10 states nominated trees, but a 384-point specimen from South Carolina beat out all the others to claim the title.

• Three new species will be represented in the Register for the first time ever: Bigleaf Snowbell (co-champs in NC), Littleleaf Sumac (AZ), and Geyer Willow (AZ).

• The throne for the Ohio Buckeye (Ohio’s state tree) has moved from Ohio to Illinois after a 266-point tree was nominated from Illinois. The new Ohio Buckeye champ stands at Hamburger University, McDonald’s corporate headquarters.
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Fallen champs

Number that died or were dethroned since 2006: 358

Notable losses:

• 856-point “Klootchy Creek Giant” Sitka Spruce of Oregon was toppled by high winds in 2007.

• 563-point Eastern Cottonwood of Nebraska came down in a storm during the summer of 2007.

• Louisiana’s Seven Sisters Live Oak was dethroned after a former Georgia co-champion was remeasured and gained more than 5 points on the Seven Sisters oak, making the Georgia tree the standalone champion.

• Rhode Island lost its only champion due to the 10-year rule.

• 340-point Northern White-Cedar of Leelanau County, Michigan, was found dead. The tree had reigned since 1953.

Remaining (original) champs from Class of 1940

• Giant Sequoia (“General Sherman”), Sequoia National Park, CA

• Rocky Mountain Juniper (“Jardine Juniper”), Cache National Forest, UT

• Western Juniper (“Bennett Juniper”), Stanislaus National Forest, CA

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[American Forests’ mission is to grow a healthier world with trees by working with communities on local efforts that restore and maintain forest ecosystems. Our work encompasses planting trees, calculating the value of urban forests, fostering environmental education, and improving public policy for trees at the national level. We have a goal of 100 million trees planted by 2020.

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides tree, shrub and lawn care, large tree moving, grounds management, vegetation management and consulting services throughout North America. Founded in 1880, Davey has more than 7,000 employees. For more information about the company, access www.davey.com.

American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees is sponsored by The Davey Tree Expert Company, which also sponsors American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees Calendar. www.americanforests.org.]

— Posted 4-28-08

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