Michael W. Taylor is a leading discoverer of champion and tallest tree

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

s - most notably Coast Redwoods. In 2006, Michael co-discovered the tallest known tree in the world, a coast redwood (sequoia) now named "Hyperion

Hyperion (tree)

Hyperion is the name of a Coast Redwood in Northern California that was measured at , which ranks it as the world's tallest known living tree. Despite its great height, Hyperion is not the largest known coast redwood; that distinction belongs to the Lost Monarch tree.Hyperion was discovered August...

". He also discovered "Helios" and "Icarus", the 2nd and 3rd tallest.

National Geographic made a video about the discovery and measuring of Hyperion. The discovery made headlines.

Taylor has discovered 50 coast redwoods over 350 feet tall, and co-discovered approximately 100 more over 350 feet with Chris Atkins and Stephen Sillett

Stephen C. Sillett

Stephen C. Sillett is a botanist specializing in old growth forest canopies. As the first scientist to enter the redwood forest canopy, he pioneered new methods for climbing, exploring, and studying tall trees...

, who is the first holder of the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology at Humboldt State University. Taylor and Sillett have collaborated and measured remarkable previously unknown redwoods. Their discoveries have fueled research and public interest in coast redwoods, which are now a World Heritage Site

World Heritage Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

.

Michael is a main character of the non-fiction book (2007) The Wild Trees

The Wild Trees

The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring is a non-fiction book by Richard Preston about California's coastal redwoods and the recreational climbers who climbed them. It is a narrative-style collection of stories from climbers who pioneered redwood climbing, including botanist Steve Sillett,...

. The narrative includes how Taylor began exploring for tall trees, measuring tallest trees, and later networking with Pacific coast forest researchers.

Taylor co-discovered the largest known coast redwood named Lost Monarch in the Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

The Grove of Titans is a redwood grove in Del Norte County, Northern California, which includes several massive Coast Redwood trees, some being the largest known redwoods in terms of wood volume. The largest Coastal Redwood tree in the grove by volume is Lost Monarch...

, as well as Iluvatar

Iluvatar (tree)

Iluvatar is a redwood tree in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Northern California that has been confirmed to be at least in diameter at breast height, and in height. Measured by Stephen C. Sillett, it is the world's third-largest coast redwood, the largest being Lost Monarch.Iluvatar is...

  in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Tallest tree discoveries

Redwoods: Helios and Icarus were discovered in 2006, shortly before Hyperion. Hyperion was the record height coast redwood that prompted National Geographic Society and Save-the-Redwoods League to coordinate a documentary. These are just 3 of many coast redwoods over 350' tall which Michael Taylor discovered. The details are chronicled at www.talltreesclub.org

Tree Name	Height
	(m)	(ft)
Hyperion Hyperion (tree) Hyperion is the name of a Coast Redwood in Northern California that was measured at , which ranks it as the world's tallest known living tree. Despite its great height, Hyperion is not the largest known coast redwood; that distinction belongs to the Lost Monarch tree.Hyperion was discovered August...	115.5	379.1
Helios	114.7	376.3
Icarus	113.1	371.2

Pines: Discovery of 4 new world's tallest pine trees, January, 2011.

Largest Coast Redwood discoveries

Taylor discovered and co-discovered the largest known coast redwoods. The locations of these trees have not been disclosed by the National and California State Parks to the general public. For more information see to www.landmarktrees.net

Tree Name	Location	Height		Diameter (b.h)		Volume		Source
		(m)	(ft)	(m)	(ft)	(m³)	(ft³)
Lost Monarch Lost Monarch Lost Monarch is the name of a Coast Redwood tree in Northern California that is in diameter at breast height , and in height...	JSRSP Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...	97.5	320	7.9	26.0	1203.46	42,500
Fusion Giant, aka Melkor	RNP	106.3	348.8	6.8	22.4	1107.2	39,100
Iluvatar Iluvatar (tree) Iluvatar is a redwood tree in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Northern California that has been confirmed to be at least in diameter at breast height, and in height. Measured by Stephen C. Sillett, it is the world's third-largest coast redwood, the largest being Lost Monarch.Iluvatar is...	PCRSP Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a state park, located in Humboldt County, California, near the town of Orick and 50 miles north of Eureka...	91.43	300	6.25	20.5	1061.88	37,500
Del Norte Titan Del Norte Titan Del Norte Titan is the name of a Coast Redwood tree in Del Norte County, Northern California, that was confirmed by measuring to be at least in diameter at DBH , and tall...	JSRSP Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...	93.6	307	7.3	23.7	1053.38	37,200
El Viejo Del Norte	JSRSP Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...	98.7	323.8	7.1	23.0	1002.41	35,400
Howland Hill Giant	JSRSP Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...	100.6	330	5.85	19.1	950.9	33,580

Education

Taylor attended Humboldt State University

Humboldt State University

Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...

from 1984-87 studying forestry, attended San Diego State University In 1988, returned to Humboldt State University 1992-94 completing a bachelor of science in environmental engineering.