A thousand years old and 20 storeys high: tracking down Taiwan’s tallest trees Taiwan’s tallest tree, “Heaven Sword of the Da’an River,” measures 84.1 meters and is estimated to be 1,000 years old, supporting numerous species within its structure. Researchers are actively mapping these ancient trees, which play a vital role in carbon absorption, but they are increasingly imperiled by climate change, wildfires, and extreme weather. Despite conservation efforts, the future of these giants remains uncertain as environmental conditions worsen.

• Taiwan’s tallest tree, “Heaven Sword of the Da’an River,” is an 84.1-meter-high Taiwania cryptomerioides estimated to be 1,000 years old.
• These ancient trees support complex habitats, with different species occupying distinct layers from the forest floor to the canopy.
• Tall trees are crucial for biodiversity and carbon absorption, acting as vital defenses against climate change.
• Giant trees worldwide, including Taiwan’s tallest, are facing severe threats from wildfires, global heating, droughts, and extreme weather events.
• Researchers use advanced technologies like lidar, alongside traditional climbing methods, to measure and map these trees, but accuracy can be a challenge.
• Conservationists are working to protect these trees through methods like forest thinning and studying threats from pests, but more unrecorded tall trees may exist in remote areas.
• Typhoons in Taiwan are increasing in strength, making trees on steep slopes more vulnerable to floods and landslides, highlighting the precarious existence of these giants.
• The study emphasizes the importance of documenting and preserving these trees, recognizing the luck involved in their survival amidst changing environmental conditions.