Ancient Tree Titans of Taiwan

Scientists just discovered the tallest tree in East Asia—a 1,000-year-old cypress named “The Heaven Sword” on Taiwan, soaring 84.1 meters into the sky. Found after a decade of laser-mapping efforts aided by COVID-19 lockdown volunteers, the tree required daring climbs and rugged terrain to measure. More than just a giant trunk, it’s a thriving ecosystem hosting orchids and flying squirrels, and a massive carbon sink. But its future is in jeopardy: climate change, typhoons, and illegal logging threaten these ancient titans—reminding us how much we still have to protect before it’s too late.

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