In Search of Big Trees…

I wrote this article for the December 2010 issue of The Signal Mountain Mirror. Since finding big trees to nominate for state and national registers can be a fun family activity – especially in the winter – I thought I would share what I learned in my blog, too.

There is something comforting about a grand old tree – a tree with a trunk so large that even the treehuggers among us can’t wrap their arms around its girth. These grandfathers of the forest offer a steadfastness that cannot often be found in today’s fast-paced and changing world. If only these towering landmarks could speak their stories to tell us the history of our cities and people, and the way the landscape has been changed by its inhabitants.

Unfortunately, big trees have become a rarity for those of us living in the United States in the 21^st century. In the last 200 years alone, human have taken a tremendous toll on trees so that, today, grand old trees are noticeably remarkable when stumbled upon.

From where I write from in the southeastern United States, the demise of big trees began during the Civil War, when centuries-old stands of trees were cut to provide fuel for soldiers’ campfires. In fact, according to The History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee by Zella Armstrong, only 51 shade trees were standing in Chattanooga at the end of the Civil War.

Then, in the late 1800s, the timber industry began impacting southeastern forests as a whole. According to The Forest History Society, the largest and highest quality trees were cut first: cherry, ash, walnut, oak and tulip poplars, which were often as large as 25 feet in circumference. Later, a demand for hemlock, spruce and chestnut trees grew. The coal industry was growing in the Southeast at about the same time, further impacting trees and forests.

Today, urban development is changing the forested landscape. In my hometown of Chattanooga, a regional analysis conducted by the group American Forests found that heavy tree cover in the Chattanooga Metro Area declined by 50 percent between 1974 and 1996.

For those us searching for majestic trees today to admire or share with our children, the good news is that state and national organizations are working to preserve and protect notable trees. Across the Southeast-where urban growth has increased in recent years-in towns like Raleigh, tree removal is strictly regulated. Local governments and organizations need the help of the community in finding these tree treasures. If you are looking for a fun way to engage your kids outdoors, how about hunting for, measuring and nominating big trees in your city.

In Tennessee, the nonprofit organization Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) manages a state Landmark and Historic Tree Register, which recognizes noteworthy trees or groves of trees.

Landmark Trees must be commonly recognized as an established and familiar feature in a community or as a significant part of the community’s heritage or the tree must have been planted in memorial to or in association with a nationally, regionally or state recognized individual, group, event or cause and is confirmed to be more than 50 years old. Historic Trees must be witnesses to historic events or cultural movements that are significant nationally, regionally or within the state.

To date, TUFC only lists eight Landmark Trees and seven Historic Trees in Tennessee. The only tree on the Register located in Chattanooga is the Bonnie Oaks Willow Oak (Quercus phellos), an enormous tree that sits on property now owned by the Hamilton County Parks Department located at 6183 Adamson Circle off I-75 exit 7B.

Anyone may nominate an Historic or Landmark Tree for the Register. To download a nomination application, visit the TUFC Web site or contact Tom Simpson at (865) 908-4434 with questions.

Nationally, the nonprofit organization American Forests manages the National Register of Big Trees. The organization uses a calculation based on a tree’s circumference, vertical height and average crown spread to determine total points for the tree.

Currently, the National Register of Big Trees lists 733 of the largest tree species in the United States. The 2010 Register lists 12 Big Trees in Tennessee; however, none of the trees are located in the Chattanooga area. To nominate a tree for the National Register of Big Trees, visit the American ForestsWeb Site.

Happy tree hunting!

Tagged as: outdoor activities for kids, southern forests