Science & Nature
The Cubs and Bulls Have Nothing on These Champs. Check Out Cook County’s MVP Trees
Cook County's 96-foot-tall champion American elm. (Forest Preserve District of Cook County)
From a towering 120-foot-tall black oak to a 20-foot redbud, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has mapped the largest specimen of each tree species identified in the preserves and has made it easier for people to find these “champions.”
The district’s Champion Tree Register has been updated with an interactive web tool that not only shows the location of each champion, but also includes a photo and stats like the tree’s height, circumference and the spread of its crown.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County just released an interactive map of its champion trees. (Forest Preserve District of Cook County)
“Many trees in the forest preserves are over a century old and support hundreds of organisms in the environments in which they grow,” Kim Kalosky, a certified arborist at the forest preserves, said in a statement.
“Champion trees influence the biodiversity of local areas in numerous ways,” Kalosky added. “Next time you see a champion, thank it not only for the shade and fresh air it provides but also for all the plants and animals it helps sustain.”
People can nominate a tree they think might be a champions and if it passes inspection, the tree will be added to the register.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
