back to Tree Protection Measures

A Heritage Tree Hunt

See Resources for examples of Tree Hunts in other communities around the world
"Shadows of Generations" by June Julian: A World Community of Old Trees Project http://www.nyu.edu/projects/julian/

 

Each year the Canadian Forestry Association (CFA) selects a community to host a celebration of its forest resources. This year CFA has designated the Town of Oakville as 2007 Forest Capital of Canada. This designation was bestowed on Oakville in recognition of the Town’s commitment to sustainable forest development, management and conservation.

As Forest Capital of Canada, Oakville must host a variety of community events and activities incorporating National Forest Week (Sept. 24-30) and showcasing its Forest Capital of Canada designation. The Town has already prepared a variety of events, including the planting of 150 trees during Arbor Week (April 27 – May 6). In addition, to these events, I would like to suggest that we conduct a Heritage Tree Hunt that would culminate in a celebration during Forest Week, (to meet that deadline, planning needs to begin now).

Oakville’s natural landscape deserves recognition. A Heritage Tree Hunt will draw the public’s attention to our natural heritage and can be used to promote a better understanding of the benefits of trees in our community. Heritage trees are symbols of all the good work trees do for the quality of our environment and our quality of life.

A Heritage Tree Hunt will also help to involve the community in creating an inventory of significant and unique trees located in Oakville. The goal is to encourage community groups, individuals and families to "get out" and experience their surroundings by nominating trees or a group of trees that are outstanding in age, size, character or rarity.

I will post the date for our next planning meeting. (Below are some preliminary ideas for discussion).

Tree Hunt – Preliminary Notes: A Heritage Tree is defined as:

A notable specimen because of its size, form, shape, beauty, age, colour, rarity, genetic constitution, or other distinctive features; a living relic that displays evidence of cultural modification by Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal people, including strips of bark or knot-free wood removed, test hole cut to determine soundness, furrows cut to collect pitch or sap, or blazes to mark a trail; a prominent community landmark; a specimen associated with a historic person, place, event or period; a representative of a crop grown by ancestors and their successors that is at risk of disappearing from cultivation; a tree associated with local folklore, myths, legends or traditions; a specimen identified by members of a community as deserving heritage recognition. (Dr. Paul Aird, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto)

Celebrate trees because… (culled from the Michigan’s Big Tree Hunt)

Rules (entry forms available in stores and on web – newspaper?)

Certificates and prizes awarded for

  1. Largest tree of any species submitted in contest by a tree hunter 16 years of age and over
  2. Largest tree of any species submitted in contest by a tree hunter 15 years of age and under
  3. Largest Eastern White Pine (Ontario’s Provincial Tree)
  4. Largest Carolinian tree (See list)
  5. Rarest tree
  6. Most unique tree
  7. Most historically/culturally significant tree
  8. others?

Endangered or Rare Species: (this list can be extended)

  1. Rare species but not protected

  2. Rare species protected under SARA

  3. Rare species regulated under ESA

Carolinian Trees  (Windsor has produced an excellent Carolinian tree ID guide http://www.citywindsor.ca/000975.asp )

Bitternut Hickory           Black Cherry               Black Gum                  Black Oak 

Black Walnut                 Blue Beech                  Bur Oak                      Chinquapin Oak 

Common Hackberry      Cucumber Magnolia    Dogwood                    Eastern Redbud 

Honey Locust                Kentucky Coffee         Paw Paw                    Pin Oak 

Red Oak                       Shagbark Hickory       Shellbark Hickory       Swamp White Oak 

Sycamore                      Tulip Tree                                                       

 Resources:

 Securing the Future of Heritage Trees - A Protection Toolkit for Communities

Canada

US

England

Related articles from newspapers, magazines and other sources: (from Highbeam)

Saving the spirit trees: by cataloging the Virgin Islands' "remarkable" trees, a university professor hopes to save its wealth of stories about ancestral shrines and jumbie trees--and create a link between environmentalism and the islands' cultural history.("Remarkable Big Trees or Cultural Interest in the U.S Virgin Islands")
American Forests; 9/22/2003; Nickens, T. Edward; 1773 words;
Big tree hunter. (photographer for The Davey Tree Expert Co.'s National Register of Big Trees calendar Albin Dearing)
American Forests; 3/22/1998; Mathewes, Jennifer; 970 words;
Big birthday for a big tree. (Western Wanderings).(Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California)(Brief Article)
Sunset; 5/1/2002; Fish, Peter; 635 words;
New champs in height and breath: General Sherman gets smaller, mega-trees switch places, people are one with trees. Read on for the latest from the world of really big trees.
American Forests; 3/22/2006; Bronaugh, Whit; 1784 words;
50th birthday of big trees. (American Forestry Association's National Register of Big Trees)
American Forests; 1/1/1990; Gangloff, Deborah; 288 words;
Why hunt big trees? (National Registry of Big Trees)
American Forests; 1/1/1990; McGrath, Chad; 688 words;
Big trees and dreams. (National Registry of Big Trees)
American Forests; 1/1/1990; Rooney, Bill; 434 words;