VIRGINIA
TECH OFFERS HABITAT
EVALUATION PROCEDURES
WORKSHOPS
BLACKSBURG,
Dec. 17, 2002 - Big
trees are important
to everyone. "Not
only do they provide
useful information
about natural history
and forest ecology,
but they add beauty
to our landscape,
as well as health,
and even economic
values. The Virginia
Big Tree Program offers
recognition to the
Commonwealth's rich
natural heritage.
In fact, Virginia
is ranked 4th in U.S.
champion trees," said
Jeff Kirwan, Extension
4-H Specialist for
forestry at Virginia
Tech.
The
program relies on
volunteers to search
for, nominate, and
verify the measurements
of big trees in Virginia.
When a big tree is
reported to the program,
it is entered into
the Virginia Big Tree
Registry, an official
list maintained jointly
by the Virginia Forestry
Association, the Virginia
Department of Forestry,
and Virginia Tech's
College of Natural
Resources. The largest
of each species appears
on the big tree list.
The current Virginia
Big Tree Program website
contains links to
Big Tree News; the
Virginia big tree
list; National big
tree list; directions
on how to measure
a tree through circumference,
height, and crown
diameter; how to nominate
a big tree; how to
identify a tree; a
list of tree lifespans;
how to protect big
trees; and a guide
to famous and historic
trees.
"Most of Virginia's
current champion trees
were nominated in
the 1970s and have
not been verified
in years," said Kirwan.
In 2002, a survey
was conducted, and
it estimated that
38 percent of those
trees are now dead.
The survey also showed
many landowners are
not aware that they
have a champion tree
on their property.
Directions to trees
are so poor that 25
percent simply could
not be found.
Big
trees are a community
treasure. "For example,"
explained Kirwan,
"the new champion
redwood nominated
by Joe Foreman of
Norfolk a year ago
scored 270 total points,
beating the former
three co-champions
by more than 45 points.
Another tree, a new
champion black oak,
nominated by Charlie
Knoeller, from Westmoreland
County, scored 469
total points." These
trees and many other
champion winners can
be viewed at the Big
Tree Program website
at http://www.fw.vt.edu/4h/bigtree/index.htm.
Current programs related
to the Virginia Big
Tree Program include
Virginia Tech's Master
Gardener and municipal
Tree Stewards around
the state. Kirwan
hopes that volunteers
from these programs
can re-measure all
500 trees in the current
database over the
next five years. These
volunteers -- along
with volunteers from
the 4-H Big Tree Program
-- will ensure that
big trees will be
recognized and protected
now and into the future.
"The one thing we
still lack," noted
Kirwan, "is a Virginia
Historic Tree Program,
which would delineate
another aspect of
special trees."
"Surprisingly
enough, two-thirds
of the big trees occur
in urban areas," Kirwan
said. One group that
addresses the needs
of urban forestry
is Trees Virginia,
whose mission is to
teach citizens and
those involved in
tree use how to take
care of city trees.
For more information
on that group, contact
1-800-866-VATREES,
or www.treesvirginia.org.
