Michael Taylor (forester)
Michael W. Taylor (born 25 April 1966, in Los Angeles) is 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.
Michael Taylor | |
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Michael Taylor in Redwood National Park taking a preliminary measurement with a laser rangefinder | |
| Born | Michael W. Taylor 25 April 1966 |
| Occupation | Forester |
| Known for | Discovered Hyperion (tree), the tallest tree in the world. Discovered many tall redwood trees. |
National Geographic made a video about the discovery and measuring of Hyperion. The discovery made headlines.
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. 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. 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.