Expedition reaches tallest tree in the Amazon, in Pará

An expedition of researchers claims to have finally managed to reach the tallest tree in the Amazon, over 88 meters tall. “Finally”, because the attempt began in 2019, but a fishbone stuck in the throat and the fatigue of the group of researchers meant that the plan to find the giant had to be postponed – until now.

The huge red angelim (Excellent Dinizia) is located in the Paru State Forest, in Pará, and is estimated to be between 400 and 600 years old. Luckily, considering that the state concentrates significant numbers of deforestation, it is in a region that is extremely difficult to access.

Around it there is dense forest of highly conserved areas, the Montanhas do Tumucumaque National Park and several indigenous lands — places that are known for their high degree of preservation. In addition to protecting the forest itself, the angelim-vermelho also has the backwaters of the waters. To reach the tree, it is necessary, for a day, to push the boat through rapids.

“Today there is no risk [de pessoas] arrive”, says Diego Armando, one of the researchers who was part of the expedition, supported by the Iratapuru Fund and the Jari Foundation, the main funder. The project also had the support of Imazon.

All of this started with a project by Inpe (National Institute for Space Research) to estimate the biomass present in the Amazon. With the database developed for this, the institute’s researchers and partners realized that they could identify giant trees in the forest.

The identification of the tree was made possible by analysis of satellite images and also the use of lasers coupled to planes. And the most interesting thing is that there isn’t just one. The area around the angelim-vermelho is practically a sanctuary of giant trees over 80 meters high.

According to Armando, countless other giant trees that have not yet been mapped may exist in the forest, considering that the analyzes carried out focus only on a relatively small space in the forest.

With the data in hand, the scientists then, in 2019, set out on the first expedition after the giant red angelim.

To put the plan into practice, Armando highlights the role of the population of São Francisco do Iratapuru, the last community before entering the forest for good behind the tree. The village contributed with its experience in navigating the Jari River, through which the scientists had to navigate for 250 km.

In this first expedition, “only” 3 km from the big tree (considering the difficulty of advancing through the forest), the researchers had to give up the enterprise. A firefighter accompanying them had a fishbone stuck in his throat. In addition, the entire team was already worn out.

But in any case, it was not a wasted trip. Along the way, the researchers managed to come across other giants.

After the end of the first expedition, the scientists managed to approve a project through the Iratapuru Fund to map and search for giant trees.

On the second expedition, in 2021, the team found, in the Jari Valley, the largest chestnut tree ever recorded, measuring 66 meters.

In the third, they found the largest tree in Amapá, at 85 meters.

In the fourth, they find one of 83 meters.

According to Armando, the last expedition resulted in the possibility of creating a bill to protect these trees that are in the state.

Until the fifth expedition finally arrives, in 2022, to the biggest tree so far found, with more care.

Everything was going well until one of the group members was bitten by a spider, apparently. There was even the thought of aborting the mission, once again, however, thanks to the presence of a doctor, it was only possible to medicate and observe the sting victim.

“In terms of valuing the standing forest, it was an extraordinary experience. Being in that environment, after three years, seeing that majestic being, dominating the forest canopy”, says the researcher.

At the site, the researchers analyzed some of the forest and the surrounding soil, looking for clues to understand the concentration of trees that are so much higher than the average height of the forest.

Now the idea is to deepen the studies, collecting material from the largest tree ever found in the Amazon, in order to even be able to accurately determine the age of the colossus. One of the points on the horizon of the research is to try to understand the impact of the climate crisis on these forest giants.