AMERICAN FORESTS
It was while I was living in the U.S.A. in the late 1970's when I was introduced to American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees. I owe most of my commitment to the Australian NRBT to my constant perusal and enjoyment of their Register. American Forests have agreed to help with the creation of the NRBT, and without this guidance and help, the NRBT would not become a reality.
I repeat what was stated in another part of this website.
Making the Australian tree Points directly comparable to the U.S.A. is important for these reasons:
- Australians can view the American Forests Register of Big Trees and gain immediate, and much enjoyment, in comparing their Champions with ours, and vice versa for North American tree enthusiasts viewing our NRBT.
- It will also make the Register interesting and relevant for visiting U.S.A. tree enthusiasts, and could encourage a significant number of visitors to this country who might not normally do so.
- For Australian tree enthusiasts visiting the USA, the reciprocal benefits apply.
Visit their exciting website on: www.americanforests.org
While you inspect the inner workings of the National Register of Big Trees you will see what lies ahead for our NRBT!
Once we have a NRBT that contains a significant number of Champions, a link to our website from the American Forests website will be discussed.
More information about the American Forests National Register of Big Trees is given below.
History
The need to find and save America’s biggest trees came in the September 1940 issue of American Forests after Joseph Sterns, a concerned forester, published his article "Let’s Find and Save the Biggest trees." Within the same issue, AMERICAN FORESTS published a call to action that read: "WANTED! The Location and Measurement of the Largest Specimen of the Following American Tree Species." With the first nomination of the Chestnut Oak in Suffield, Connecticut being highlighted in the following issue, AMERICAN FORESTS’ members began their search for the largest tree species to be named champion. Since 1940, only three trees have held their national championship status to this day – Rocky Mountain Juniper, Western Juniper, and the General Sherman Giant Sequoia.
The program that simply began as "American Big Trees" with 77 National Champions had grown to the "Social Register of Big Trees" in 1961, with 355 National Champions in Forty-two states and the District of Columbia. In 1969, a Hawaii edition of the register was produced, recognizing exotic American species and trees native to the last state acquired in the Union. The Big Tree program saw another change in 1978 with the name of the program changing to the "National Register of Big Trees," with yet another increase in champions.
Over time, public participation has grown, drawing attention to the importance of preserving our living landmarks. Since the first full list of 228 species was published in January 1945, American Forests has found the largest of over 800 tree species in the United States.
Who do we work with?
- There are Big Tree State Coordinators in all fifty states. Each program is run statewide with its own rules and policies, where the majority of state programs have websites dedicated to their Champion Tree programs.
- State Coordinators are volunteers that work for forestry agencies (often the Urban Forester for the state agency) or are in academia. Many statewide programs are funded through government agencies, but others are run just on the work, love, and energy invested into the program.
- Trees that are nominated for the national register must be verified by State Coordinators in that particular state. Many coordinators work in field offices and have foresters that can visit the tree, identify the species, and measure the tree’s dimensions. State coordinators will also receive nominations for their state program that they pass along to the national level. Their main responsibility is to act as the liaison for AMERICAN FORESTS to let us know what is going on in their region and for us to have someone verify the validity of trees that are nominated. This also includes updating AMERICAN FORESTS on the status of current Champions. (E.g. if a tree has fallen during a thunderstorm or has gotten bigger).
- Of the fifty state coordinators, there is a Big Tree Committee comprised of seven members. This committee is the main voice for all the coordinators and is the first group of people we contact when facing major changes or decisions about the register. The Big Tree Committee reviews the species list and makes recommendations for scientific name changes and species that should be added or removed from the list. Because there are fifty state coordinators, we rely on this small group to weigh in on the processes and policies of the national program.
How do we determine the next National Champion?
- AMERICAN FORESTS uses the following calculation to determine a tree’s total points:
- Trunk Circumference + Height + ¼ Average Crown Spread = Total Points
- Trees must meet the definition of a tree as defined on our Checklist –
- A woody plant having one erect perennial stem or trunk at 9 ½ inches in circumference (3 inches in diameter) at 4 ½ feet above the ground (breast height), a definitely crown of foliage, and a height of at least 13 feet.
- Native tree species (or indigenous) are wild and grew naturally or spontaneously in the undisturbed forest vegetation before the arrival of Columbus or Europeans.
- A naturalized tree is an introduced species that has become common and established itself as though wild, reproducing naturally and spreading.
Eligible Species on the list
- To be eligible for the National Register of Big Trees, a species must be recognized as native or naturalized in the continental United States, including Alaska but not Hawaii. (Species found only in Hawaii are not included.) Hybrids and minor varieties are excluded. There are 826 eligible species and varieties: 747 native and 79 naturalized. To determine eligibility, American Forests uses Elbert L. Little Jr.'s Checklist of United States Trees (Native and Naturalized), published in 1979 as U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Handbook 541.
- The new list American Forests has put together focuses more on scientific name changes than common name changes because there will always be discrepancy on which name sounds better or is more appropriate. Our goal is to ensure the scientific integrity of the tree species list and that it is in accordance with today’s taxonomy and nomenclature. We have recently updated the tree species list so that there are 55 new species and 23 species that will be removed and will no longer be eligible for Champion status. This brings the total to 858 total eligible species. The Big Tree Committee is in the process of reviewing and finalizing their thoughts on scientific name changes and if certain ornamental trees (e.g. ginkgo biloba) should be added to the list.
- Individuals are more than welcome to submit nominations for species they believe should be included in the national register. Additions to the species list must have supporting materials and be submitted to American Forests for review by the Big Tree Committee by January 1st of every odd year. (This is because the register is published every even year).
- American Forests also realizes that there are many tree species that are native to Hawaii and is in the process of having a separate register for tropical trees.
When is the Register published?
- The National Register of Big Trees is published every two years in the Spring issue of the American Forests magazine.
- The register is also published online and is a searchable database. We are moving in the direction of updating the register online more frequently.
