Scientists spent 10 years searching for East Asia's tallest tree—what they found was extraordinary

Hidden deep within Taiwan's rugged mountain forests, researchers have identified the tallest known tree in East Asia—an enormous Taiwania fir standing 84.1 metres (276 feet) tall, reported ScienceDaily.

The discovery marks the culmination of a decade-long scientific expedition that combined advanced laser mapping, expert climbers and hundreds of citizen scientists to uncover some of the region's most remarkable old-growth forests.

Beyond setting a new height record, the giant tree is offering fresh insights into biodiversity, forest conservation and the vital role ancient forests play in storing carbon.

A decade-long mission to find Taiwan's forest giants

The search began in 2014 when a multidisciplinary team, known as the Taiwan Tree Seekers, launched a systematic effort to locate and document the island's largest trees.

The group includes ecologists, professional tree climbers, geologists and remote sensing specialists who have spent years exploring Taiwan's remote mountain landscapes in search of giant Taiwania firs.

Their breakthrough came in 2023, when they measured an extraordinary tree rising 84.1 metres above the forest floor, making it the tallest tree ever recorded in Taiwan and across East Asia.

Among the Indigenous Rukai people, these towering trees are poetically known as "the trees that hit the moon."

Why Taiwan is home to towering trees

Although Taiwan covers an area similar to Switzerland, its landscape is dominated by steep mountain ranges, with hundreds of peaks exceeding 3,000 metres in elevation.

This dramatic variation in altitude creates an exceptional range of ecosystems, from tropical rainforests to alpine environments.

According to the report, researchers estimate that around 5,000 plant species grow across the island, while forests still blanket roughly 60% of Taiwan, providing habitat for an estimated 950 million trees.

Much of Taiwan's ancient forest survived decades of industrial logging because the steepest and most inaccessible terrain remained beyond the reach of logging operations.

Technology transformed the hunt for giant trees

Finding a handful of record-breaking trees among hundreds of millions proved to be an enormous challenge.

Traditional field surveys often produced misleading height estimates because dense forest canopies made accurate measurements difficult.

To overcome this, researchers partnered with remote sensing experts and began using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), an airborne laser-scanning technology capable of creating highly detailed three-dimensional maps of forests.

The technology dramatically narrowed the search but also produced thousands of false results in mountainous terrain, where cliffs and steep slopes frequently confused automated measurements.

Citizen scientists helped solve a major problem

Rather than relying entirely on computer software, researchers invited members of the public to assist with analysing LiDAR data.

Beginning in 2020, hundreds of volunteers examined forest images to distinguish genuine giant trees from mapping errors.

Their contribution proved critical. Researchers found that automated systems had incorrectly classified about 93% of potential giant trees.

By the end of 2022, the collaboration produced the Taiwan Giant Tree Map, identifying 941 trees taller than 65 metres across the island.

The moment East Asia's tallest tree was confirmed

Armed with the new map, researchers set out during the 2023 Lunar New Year to investigate the most promising candidate.

The expedition involved trekking nearly 20 kilometres along a river, followed by two days of climbing through steep mountain terrain before the team finally reached the giant Taiwania fir.

Professional climbers ascended into the tree's crown and lowered a measuring tape directly to the ground, confirming its record-breaking height of 84.1 metres.

The towering tree was later named the "Heaven Sword of the Da'an River."

Hidden forests packed with towering giants

The mapping project has also led researchers to remarkable clusters of giant trees hidden within Taiwan's remote wilderness.

Near Mount Benya, scientists identified areas where numerous trees exceeding 65 metres grow together within a relatively small area.

On a return expedition nearly a decade after their first visit, the team encountered an ancient stand containing roughly 30 giant Taiwania firs, one of the largest concentrations ever documented.

Researchers describe these extraordinary locations as "temples of giants."

More than record holders—they are climate allies

The importance of these forests extends far beyond their impressive height.

A 2024 study of one ancient valley containing some of Taiwan's tallest trees found that the forest stores exceptionally high amounts of carbon, placing it among the most carbon-rich ecosystems known anywhere in the world.

Scientists, ScienceDaily reports, say these old-growth forests act as major natural carbon reservoirs while supporting rich biodiversity and helping regulate the global climate.

For researchers, the towering Taiwania firs represent far more than natural wonders—they are living reminders of the ecological value of protecting the world's remaining ancient forests