El Grande (tree)

El Grande was a massive Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus regnans) in Tasmania and Australia's largest tree. It was located on a ridge in the upper Derwent valley, adjacent to the World Heritage Area of the Florentine Valley, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Hobart. The tree stood 79 metres (259 ft) in height, had a girth of 19 metres (62 ft), and a volume of 439 cubic metres. While it was not the tallest tree in Australia, it was considered to be the largest in terms of volume,^[1] and the world's biggest flowering plant.^[2]

Approximately 350 years old,^[3] it was discovered in June 2002 by Wally Hermann,^[4] Tasmanian geologist^[5] and Tall Trees Specialist. It was burned in April 2003, and died in December 2003 by accident in a regeneration burn after clear-felling of old growth forest.^[6] Australian forestry officials admitted killing the tree by mistake,^[1] its hollow trunk acting like a furnace so that it was cooked from the inside.^[7]

While its discovery was used as a symbol for cooperation between Forestry Tasmania and the Wilderness Society, the tree's death brought national and international media attention, El Grande becoming a symbol for the destruction of Tasmanian forests.^[8] Scrutiny intensified over the burning of Tasmania's forests for wood chip exportation.^[9] In the later half of 2003, Forestry Tasmania decided to remove individual names from the state's giant trees.^[10] However, other giant trees in the area of El Grande which are also protected by Forestry Tasmania’s Giant Trees Policy, and have retained their names, include Centurion, which was discovered in 2008, and Triarius.^[11]

See also

• List of trees

References