Presentation:  Where David Douglas found the largest Pinus trees in the world

Thursday, May 15, 7:00 pm
Presentation:  Where David Douglas found the largest Pinus trees in the world
Presenter: Erich Reeder
Location: In-person presentation at the Siskiyou chapter meeting at Southern Oregon University Science Building, Room 161. Join us in-person or via Zoom from home.  To register for Zoom, go to https://bit.ly/npsotalks.

Based on a detailed analysis of Douglas’ journal entries, correspondence, aerial imagery, and topographic maps, coupled with a deep familiarity with the region’s geography and native plant species, Erich Reeder has confidently identified the site where Douglas discovered and measured a remarkable 215-foot tall, 18.5-foot diameter sugar pine. Douglas himself noted that this tree, impressive though it was, was not the largest he encountered during his expeditions.

Erich, a Rogue Valley native, developed a deep appreciation for nature from an early age. After graduating from Medford Senior High School, he studied civil engineering at Oregon State University. He then ventured into the field with a backpack and field guides to explore the flora and fauna of southwestern Oregon and northern California. In recent years, Erich has worked as a wildlife surveyor for the Bureau of Land Management in the Umpqua Valley, extensively traveling and hiking throughout the region once traversed by David Douglas nearly 200 years ago.