Remarkable moments captured in National Geographic's photography collection, highlighted by exceptional trees

In the early 20th century, the National Geographic Society began its long-standing commitment to advocating for trees and their preservation. One of the key figures in this endeavour was Gilbert H. Grosvenor, the magazine's first full-time editor, who spearheaded the effort to save the Giant Forest in California's Sequoia National Park.

The Society's dedication to trees was further demonstrated in 1921, when it donated $100,000 to save the Giant Forest. This act of conservation was followed by another significant milestone in 1968, when the Society donated $64,000 towards the establishment of Redwoods National Park.

Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, a former writer and board member for the magazine, played a pivotal role in introducing the beauty of cherry trees to the American public. In 1885, Scidmore visited Japan and was captivated by the flowering cherry trees along the Sumida River. Inspired, she petitioned officials in Washington, D.C., and with the help of First Lady Helen Taft, 3,000 cherry trees were planted around the Tidal Basin in 1912. These cherry trees are now a significant part of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

The magazine's love for trees extends beyond notable landmarks. It has also featured less celebrated, but memorable, trees, such as the catalpa trees outside a Civil War hospital in Virginia and the Callery pear "survivor tree" left standing after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

In the 1960s, the Society's senior scientist was dispatched to find the "world's tallest tree" in a California forest. Meanwhile, photographer Sam Abell captured the image of a 300-foot-tall redwood in a California state park in December 2009. The image, created by rigging a nearby tree and using remote-controlled cameras, was published in the magazine. However, tragedy struck when the tree was struck by lightning after more than 900 years. Abell returned to the spot to re-photograph the tree with the magazine page held up in the foreground, but only a skeletal trunk remained.

The magazine's dedication to trees continued with the publication of a 247-foot-high sequoia crowned with snow in Sequoia National Park on its cover in December 2012. Grosvenor's successor as editor, Melville Bell Grosvenor, also focused on preserving redwoods, as evidenced by a photograph he took of 20 men linking their arms around the 2,200-year-old sequoia known as General Sherman.

Today, the National Geographic Society continues to advocate for trees and their preservation. Former editor-at-large Cathy Newman, who currently writes for The Economist, NPR.com, and Anglers Journal, continues to be a voice for conservation. You can follow her on Twitter @wordcat12.

As we look back on a century of tree advocacy, it's clear that the National Geographic Society's love for trees has been a constant thread throughout its history. From the redwoods of California to the cherry trees of Washington, D.C., and beyond, the Society has been a champion for the world's arboreal wonders.

Remarkable moments captured in National Geographic's photography collection, highlighted by exceptional trees