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| National Register of Big Trees | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Register of Big Trees |
| Formation | 1940s |
| Type | Registry |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Leader title | Director |
National Register of Big Trees is a registry documenting champion trees across the United States that catalogs individual specimens of notable size and stature. Established through collaboration among botanists, arborists, and conservationists, the registry has influenced public awareness, scientific study, and land-use decisions. It interfaces with federal and state agencies, botanical gardens, university researchers, and nonprofit organizations to maintain an annual list of champions that attract tourism and scholarly attention.
The registry traces roots to early 20th-century naturalists influenced by figures like John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Department of Agriculture. Early records intersect with efforts by the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and regional societies including the California Academy of Sciences and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Mid-century momentum involved collaboration with the American Forestry Association, the National Park Service, and university programs at Harvard University, Yale University, and University of California, Berkeley. Key personalities and organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, the National Audubon Society, and the Sierra Club, promoted mapping and protection of notable trees alongside work by state agencies like the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Texas A&M Forest Service. The registry developed measurement protocols influenced by standards from International Union for Conservation of Nature-affiliated researchers and publications from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The registry's purpose aligns with objectives promoted by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the United States Forest Service, and botanical institutions such as the Missouri Botanical Garden to recognize exceptional specimens. Criteria for champions draw on practices from the American Society of Consulting Arborists, scientific methods taught at Cornell University, Michigan State University, and guidance from the Botanical Society of America. Size formulas and age approximations reference research by scholars affiliated with Duke University, University of Washington, and Oregon State University. Species coverage spans taxa studied in collections at the New York Botanical Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, including species also featured in lists maintained by the United States Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for site context.
Administration draws on models used by entities such as the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The registry coordinates volunteers from organizations including the Garden Club of America, the Nature Conservancy, and university extension programs at Penn State University and University of Florida. Data management practices reference standards used by the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the United Nations Environment Programme. Funding and partnerships have involved foundations like the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and corporate sponsors with ties to companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Famous entries often intersect with historic sites overseen by the National Park Service, municipal landmarks cataloged by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, or heritage trees protected by state agencies such as the Florida Division of Historical Resources and the Texas Historical Commission. Notable specimens have been subjects of research at Stanford University, University of Michigan, and the University of Minnesota and featured in media from outlets like National Geographic, the Smithsonian Magazine, and the New York Times. Some champion trees are located on properties managed by the National Trust for Scotland or adjacent to cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. High-profile cases drew attention from conservation lawyers associated with the Environmental Defense Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Nomination and verification involve community groups such as the Rotary International, the League of Women Voters, and university arboretums including those at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Texas A&M University. Field measurements follow protocols used in studies by the United States Forest Service and training programs at the International Society of Arboriculture. Data submission and recordkeeping utilize database approaches similar to those used by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and collections management practices at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Legal considerations sometimes involve counsel with organizations like the American Bar Association and land records checked at county clerks' offices referenced in the National Association of Counties.
Conservation outcomes reflect partnerships with the Nature Conservancy, the National Park Service, and state historic preservation offices such as the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the California Office of Historic Preservation. The registry has informed management decisions by agencies including the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and has been integrated into educational programs at institutions like the New York Botanical Garden and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Advocacy campaigns have involved the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the World Wildlife Fund, while research collaborations have included universities such as University of California, Davis and University of British Columbia.
Critiques have mirrored debates in conservation circles involving organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Heritage Foundation, and the World Resources Institute concerning land use, private property rights, and scientific transparency. Disputes have arisen when listings affected development projects reviewed under laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and when conflicts involved municipal entities like the New York City Department of Buildings or state transportation departments. Questions about measurement consistency prompted discussion among professional associations including the International Society of Arboriculture and the American Society of Consulting Arborists, and legal challenges have sometimes invoked courts like the United States Court of Appeals.
Category:Environmental organizations of the United States Category:Botanical registries