Peking University, May 17, 2022:A 76.8-meter Bhutan pine was discovered in Medog County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the tallest ever recorded in the Chinese mainland, according to local authorities. The tree surpasses the previous record of 72 meters and has become the new "tree king".

The tree king was measured by a joint research team of Peking University (PKU), Xizijiang Conservation Center, Shan Shui Conservation Center and Beijing Digital Green Earth Technology Co., Ltd. The team employed drones and lidar to get a 3D point cloud model of 11 giant trees with potential height of over 70 meters. The researchers therefore carried a backpack lidar to conduct comprehensive mapping of 11 giant trees in the forest hinterland. After a 10-day field investigation, data collection and processing, they finally discovered a total of 8 giant trees taller than 70 meters in the area, with the 76.8-meter Bhutan pine being the tallest.

According to PKU Professor Guo Qinghua, lidar is the most advanced technology for measuring tree height, which can obtain the 3D point cloud model of the tree more directly, rapidly and accurately.

The findings fully reflect the authenticity of the forest ecosystem in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon. Avariety of epiphytic protected plants and Medog endemic plants are found on the tree king, which further proved that the valley areas has extremely high conservation value and cultural significance, said Li Cheng, director of Xizijiang Conservation Center. The researchers suggested naming the tree king "Xindabu", which means "sacred tree" in the local language. The name also implies the value of ancient forests in terms of biodiversity.

Written by:Lean Zhixuan

Edited by:Ye Yimeng

Source:PKU News (Chinese)