Located in the upper reaches of Da'an River, the giant tree numbered 55214 is 84.1 meters high and is the tallest tree in Taiwan.

(Provided by Xu Jiajun)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Taipei Report] The Forestry Laboratory of the Council of Agriculture and National Cheng Kung University jointly formed a "Tree Finder" team to find the tallest tree in Taiwan. In June last year, a tree that may be more than 80 meters high was found in the upper reaches of Da'an River through optical radar. , No. 55214 giant tree, people are enjoying the rare continuous holiday during the Spring Festival, Xu Jiajun, a researcher of the Forestry Research Institute, led a 20-person team to set off on the second day of the Lunar New Year (1/23), and spent 7 days exploring this huge Taiwan fir tree, Measured with a measuring tape, it is 84.1 meters high, making it the tallest known tree in Taiwan and the tallest tree in East Asia.

Xu Jiajun from the Forestry Research Institute and Wang Jikui, a professor from the Department of Surveying and Spatial Information at NTU, jointly planned the "Tree Finder-Giant Tree Map Project". Through the comparison of 54,415 LiDAR topographic maps through the power of the masses, they found 941 trees in Taiwan that may exceed The 65-meter-high giant tree, and successively explored and measured the 79.1-meter-tall Taiwan fir giant tree "Momoyama Shenmu" in the valley of Sheipa National Park, and the 82-meter-high Taiwan cedar located in the upper reaches of the Kaalang River. Alang Jumu.

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The number 55214 giant tree measured by the team this time was at least 79 meters high from the light-based display. Xu Jiajun was optimistic at the time that the 55214 giant tree was likely to be the tallest tree in Taiwan, because the giant tree showed the shape of a complete trunk and top-level branches and leaves in the light. " Generally speaking, LiDAR images are difficult to capture tree trunks, but 55214 can clearly show that the giant tree is healthy, and there may be no shelter around it.”

Actually arrived at the site of the 55214 giant tree, Xu Jiajun said that there are many giant trees with a height of more than 60 meters nearby, and the 55214 giant tree stands out among them. "I can immediately recognize this tree as 55214 at a glance!" The team only had one day of work to complete the measurement , the wind was strong that day, and when the climber was about 7 or 8 meters away from the top of the tree, he could not climb anymore because the wind was strong and the branches were too shaking. He used the short time when the wind stopped to quickly attack the top and complete the measurement After work, the measured figure was 84.1 meters, which immediately made the team burst into cheers, and the 55214 giant tree was confirmed to be the tallest tree in Taiwan.

Xu Jiajun said that the 55214 giant tree has a circumference of about 8.5 meters. It is similar to Taoshan Shenmu and Kaalang giant tree. It grows in the valley on the leeward side. The age of the tree is estimated to be about 7-800 years. The epiphytes on the tree are very lush. She He said that after inspecting many giant trees, it was found that the trees with thicker girths are usually not too tall, and the giant trees with a height of more than 70 meters usually have a girth of no more than 10 meters, but the relationship between tree girth and tree height is still to be determined. Research further confirms.

Taiwan is rich in forests, and it is one of the few areas in the world where there are giant trees. Xu Jiajun said that the 941 giant trees over 65 meters high that LiDAR has scanned have been counted and basic data have been established. Future scientists can use these data for further research A more in-depth study of the giant wood field.

Xu Jiajun led a team to survey and measure 55214 giant trees during the Spring Festival. The moment they saw the giant tree, the team exclaimed.

(Provided by Xu Jiajun)

Located in the upper reaches of Da'an River, the giant tree numbered 55214 is Taiwan fir, with a circumference of about 8.5 meters. Xu Jiajun estimates that the age of the tree is about 700-800 years.

(Provided by Xu Jiajun)

Located in the upper reaches of Da'an River, the giant tree numbered 55214 is Taiwan fir, with a circumference of about 8.5 meters. Xu Jiajun estimates that the age of the tree is about 700-800 years.

(Provided by Xu Jiajun)

Xu Jiajun, a researcher at the Forestry Research Institute, said that the biggest challenge is not to find trees, but to safely bring the team into the mountains and bring the team home safely.

(Provided by Xu Jiajun)

Located in the upper reaches of Da'an River, the giant tree numbered 55214 has very lush epiphytes, and the researchers praised it as a mother full of vitality.

(Provided by Xu Jiajun)