{
  "id": 114631,
  "title": "Scientists went looking for giant trees in Taiwan and found a lost world",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/scientists-went-looking-for-giant-trees-in-taiwan-and-found-a-lost",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-04T01:18:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily",
    "slug": "sciencedaily",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223431.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the mountainous interior of Taiwan, a land once known as Formosa, a hidden world thrives among its rugged terrain. The island boasts an extraordinary variety of plant life, with roughly 5,000 species flourishing in environments ranging from tropical rainforests near the coast to alpine tundra at the highest elevations. About 60% of the island remains forested, home to an estimated 950 million trees.\n\nIn 2014, a group of experts in tree climbing, ecology, geology, and remote sensing – the Taiwan Tree Seekers – embarked on a mission to locate, measure, and document these exceptional trees. Their efforts culminated in 2023, when they discovered an 84.1-meter-tall Taiwania fir, now recognized as the tallest tree in Taiwan and all of East Asia.\n\nTaiwan's geography plays a crucial role in the growth of these giant trees. The island's 36,000 square kilometers, similar in size to Switzerland, are mostly mountainous, with 258 peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. The highest peak, Mt. Jade, reaches 3,952 meters. This diverse elevation range supports a vast array of flora, from humid tropical rainforests near the coast to cold alpine tundra at the highest points.\n\nOriginally, about 60% of Taiwan was covered in forest, with an estimated 950 million trees. However, industrial logging from 1912 to 1991 decimated much of the original primary forest. Yet, the steepest and most inaccessible terrain, acting as a natural barrier, safeguarded important areas of old-growth forest from logging activities.\n\nThe team's search began in August 2014, when researchers from the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI) entered the Cilan conservation area to study a group of famous giant Taiwania firs called the Chilan Three Sisters. Local communities were familiar with these giants, but no comprehensive measurements had been made. In 2017, professional climbers from Australia documented the Three Sisters, bringing global attention to Taiwan's remarkable forests.\n\nEncouraged by this discovery, the team shifted their focus to a more remote area near Mt. Benya, where reports suggested a large concentration of Taiwania firs. Accessing this region required a challenging four-day hike carrying heavy equipment. The search also highlighted a limitation in relying solely on ground surveys to locate giant trees, as visual estimates can be misleading in dense, multi-layered forests.\n\nTo improve their search efficiency, the Taiwan Tree Seekers partnered with remote sensing specialists at National Cheng Kung University, utilizing LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology. LiDAR, a 3D scanning method that sends laser pulses from an aircraft, allows the creation of a detailed 3D model of the terrain and estimation of tree heights. Despite Taiwan's challenging terrain, this method proved more accurate than automated software, which often overestimated tree heights, especially when they stood near cliffs or sharp elevation changes. In 2020, community members joined the project by reviewing LiDAR profile images, helping to eliminate tens of thousands of false positives. The collaboration resulted in the Taiwan Giant Tree Map, documenting 941 trees taller than 65 meters by the end of 2022.\n\nUsing this map, the team identified the tallest tree in January 2023, measuring 84.1 meters, named the Heaven Sword of the Da an River. This recognition marked the tallest known tree in both Taiwan and East Asia. By early 2026, the team had identified and climbed ten Taiwania trees exceeding 70 meters, with two surpassing 80 meters in height. The Giant Tree Map also guided them to dense concentrations of massive trees, dubbed \"temples of giants,\" with one hectare containing 11 trees over 65 meters tall.\n\nThese ancient forests are not only remarkable for their size and beauty but also potentially play a significant role in Taiwan's ecosystem, warranting further study and preservation efforts.",
  "summary": "Taiwan’s steep, remote mountains have sheltered extraordinary forests containing hundreds of giant Taiwania firs. After years of difficult expeditions, LiDAR mapping, and citizen-science detective work, researchers discovered an 84.1-meter (276-foot) tree, the tallest known in East Asia. They also found dense “temples of giants” where dozens of enormous trees grow together. These ancient forests…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "New whale stomach bacteria found: Scientists identify 3 Helicobacter genotypes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/new-whale-stomach-bacteria-found-scientists-identify-3-helicobacter",
        "published": "2026-08-05T07:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}