Feature
Tennessee’s Newest
CHAMPION TREES
ARE A LIVING LEGACY FOR THE STATE By Mara Lind, Jaqueline Payne, Jacob Chitwood, Kayla Stuart, (UT Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries students), and Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe, Faculty Advisor and Professor, UT Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries Department
B
eginning as a friendly competition to find the largest American trees, the National Champion Trees program was established in 1940 by the nonprofit organization American Forests. The program was initiated with the intention of bringing awareness to the ecosystem services, beauty, and need to protect these specimens. During the last 80 years, hundreds of National Champions have been named, yet the search and constant work of updating is an ongoing exercise. Recognizing that the titleholder for Champion Trees is subject to change across time, the process was designed to be reevaluated frequently. Trees can fall victim to old age, weather, pests, and losses associated with human disturbance and development. Newly nominated and discovered trees might usurp past champions, claiming the title’s glory for themselves. Standards for the title of National and State Champion trees are high. Not just any tree can be awarded that top honor: only native, naturalized, or non-natural exotic species are eligible. Invasive species and unclassified variants need not apply – they will not be judged. Candidate trees must also be living, qualify as the largest of its species in the state, and be assessed and verified by an expert. In Tennessee, the pursuit of State Champion Trees began in the 1970s and started with efforts to identify and catalog the largest trees in East Tennessee. The program has since been expanded to accept nominations across the entire state. An effort to reinvigorate the program was launched in 2016 (see Winter 2017 Tennessee Greentimes, 18(4): 10–12). In 2020, the Tennessee Division of Forestry partnered with the University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries to officially host the state’s Champion Tree program. David Arnold, Tennessee State Forester commented that, “partnering with the UT Department of FWF has elevated Tennessee’s Champion Tree program to an elite status. The program is now more available and engaging to Tennessee’s citizens. The UT students have made it exciting and fun to learn about our state’s biggest individual tree species. Hats off to these dedicated students!” Now, a hard-working cadre of talented UT students are being trained as tree assessment experts and are taking the lead at assisting in 1) managing the champion tree website and database, 2) vetting new nominations, 3) reinventory of current champions and 4) publicity for the Tennessee’s Champion Program. This year round internship provides students with practical, professional skills, and training in the major that will support them as they matriculate through school into their careers. In 2021, students Jaq Payne and Jacob Chitwood traveled at least 400 miles from Memphis to Johnson City as guides for the competition. Over the course of two weeks, the team visited 116 trees, with 27 new trees winning the champion title. “The most impressive tree was the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) we measured in Nashville (Photo 1), just for the sheer size of it,” Chitwood said.
16
tennessee greentimes WINTER 2021
PHOTO 1 — Student Jaq Payne stands beside the towering Dawn Redwood, measuring over 18 times her height.
