How do you decide how big a tree is? It can’t just be height or circumference alone; it must be a weighted combination of some kind. And, of course, we want a non-destructive way to measure it; digging up the tree would defeat the purpose.
A widely used system, at least in the United States, is the American Forests point system. This is defined as: circumference (in inches) + height (in feet) + one quarter the average crown spread (in feet). Or, in an algebraic formula: x + y + z/4, where x is circumference, y is height, and z is average crown spread.
This juniper in central Oregon has a score of 312, tying with another juniper in Lane County to the east. Both scores are far above any other junipers, making these trees truly exceptional.
Why does it matter which tree is the biggest? Perhaps because this sort of competition helps raise awareness of the natural world in general and forests in particular. More importantly, such a large size is a proxy for forest health. For a tree to grow so large, its environment must have remained stable and undisturbed for centuries. This juniper now stands as the centerpiece of an officially designated old-growth forest.
