Michael Taylor (forester)

Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor in Redwood National Park taking a preliminary measurement with a laser rangefinder
Born
Michael W. Taylor

(1966-04-25) 25 April 1966 (age 58)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationForester
Known forDiscovery of Hyperion (tree), the tallest tree in the world;
discovery of various other notable redwoods

Michael W. Taylor (born 25 April 1966) is an American forester who is notable for being a leading discoverer of champion and tallest trees - most notably coast redwoods. In 2006, Taylor co-discovered the tallest known tree in the world, a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) now named "Hyperion". He also discovered "Helios" and "Icarus", the 2nd and 3rd tallest.

National Geographic made a video about the discovery and measuring of Hyperion.[1] The discovery made headlines.[2][3][4]

Taylor has discovered 50 coast redwoods over 350 feet (107 m) tall, and co-discovered approximately 100 more with Chris Atkins and Stephen Sillett, who is the first holder of the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology at Humboldt State University.[5] Taylor and Sillett have collaborated and measured remarkable previously unknown redwoods. Their discoveries have fueled research and public interest in coast redwoods, which are now a World Heritage Site.

Michael is a main character of the non-fiction book (2007) The Wild Trees.[6] The narrative includes how Taylor began exploring for tall trees, measuring tallest trees, and later networking with Pacific coast forest researchers.

Taylor co-discovered the largest known coast redwood named Lost Monarch in the Grove of Titans, as well as Iluvatar in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

  1. ^ National Geographic: Measuring Hyperion
  2. ^ Eureka, new tallest living thing, San Francisco Chronicle
  3. ^ "For Extreme Tree Hunters, Redwoods Rule". Washington Post.
  4. ^ "For Extreme Tree Hunters, Redwoods Rule". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "Sillett: Ken L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology". Archived from the original on 2013-01-04.
  6. ^ Preston, Richard (2007), The Wild Trees: A Story Of Passion And Daring. Allen Lane Publishers.