Logger turns tree saver.You could say that big trees changed Matt Largess' life. Largess lar·gess also lar·gesse n. 1. a. Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner. b. Money or gifts bestowed. 2. Generosity of spirit or attitude. , a veteran of logging old-growth trees in Oregon, did an about-face in 1998 when he was asked to selectively log beech trees on a former Vanderbilt estate in Portsmouth, Rhode Island Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,149 at the 2000 census. Portsmouth's ZIP code is 02871. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 153.6 km² (59.3 mi²). 60. , according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Boston Globe. Largess told the Globe when he realized the trees were part of a old-growth forest, he just couldn't cut them down. Instead, he contacted scientists who determined the trees were more than 300 years old. The public got behind the project and enough money was raised--$1.5 million--to buy the land from the developers, who the Globe said was "surprised and pleased by the public's willingness to buy the land." Largess now runs Largess Forestry Inc., which cares for old-specimen trees on estates in Newport, RI. "I used to be a tree clearer until I found this forest, and then I changed completely," he told the Globe. "It's like being an alcoholic and going sober. Or being an atheist and becoming religious." Robert Leverett, a veteran big-tree hunter and co-founder of the Eastern Native Tree Society, called it an "amazing discovery. There it was in a highly populated Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. . It shows how places can sneak through." No word yet on whether any of those old beech trees qualify for national champion status. In the tree world, growing old does not necessarily mean growing big. Nevertheless, AMERICAN FORESTS American Forests is a nonprofit conservation organization that promotes healthy forests and urban tree planting. The organization was established in 1875 as the American Forestry Association, by physician/horticulturist John Aston Warder and a group of like-minded citizens is checking out all comers as it prepares to release the 2006-2007 National Register of Big Trees The National Register of Big Trees is a list of the largest living specimens of each tree variety found in the continental United States. A tree on this list is often called a National Champion Tree. , the definitive listing of the largest known of 826 native and naturalized nat·u·ral·ize v. nat·u·ral·ized, nat·u·ral·iz·ing, nat·u·ral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To grant full citizenship to (one of foreign birth). 2. To adopt (something foreign) into general use. species in the U.S. Among the "thrones" up for grabs in the upcoming Register are those for Georgia holly, northern pin oak, and Virginia and Jeffrey pine. You can find a complete list of species without champs on AMERICAN FORESTS' website at www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees. Look for the Register included with the Spring 2006 issue of American Forests. |
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