Permanent Retention of Exceptional Trees

Dr. Stephen Sillett presents findings from research on exceptional trees—the most robust and fastest-growing individuals in managed forests. Across 20 study locations, exceptional trees were paired with nearby co-dominant trees, climbed and cored at multiple heights, and analyzed alongside airborne lidar data using newly developed crown-level segmentation algorithms. Exceptional trees were found to grow faster and contribute disproportionately to aboveground biomass, yet they occur primarily in creek drainages protected by forest practice rules. Dr. Sillett also discussed how restoring more large trees across the landscape and permanently protecting select robust individuals may improve long-term carbon storage and forest resilience.