Michael Taylor

Michael W. Taylor is an American forester best known for his discoveries and co-discoveries of champion and tallest trees, most notably coast redwoods. In 2006, Taylor co-discovered the tallest tree in the world along with Chris Atkins. It was a coast redwood that was given the designation, "Hyperion". Tayler also discovered Helios and Icarus, the 2nd and 3rd tallest trees.

Biography
From 1984 to 1987, Taylor attended Humboldt State University, studying forestry and later attended San Diego State University. In 1988, Taylor returned to Humboldt State University and from 1992 to 1994 completed a bachelor of science in environmental engineering.

After Taylor's co-discovery of "Hyperion" in 2006, National Geographic made a video about the discovery and measuring of the Hyperion tree. The discovery of "Hyperion" managed to make headlines.

So far, Taylor has discovered about 50 coast redwoods, each measuring over 350 ft tall, and co-discovered about 100 more over 350 ft with Chris Atkins and Stephen Sillett, who is the first holder of the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology at the Humboldt State University. Together, Taylor and Sillett have collaborated and measured previously unknown redwoods. Their discoveries have fueled research and public interest in the coast redwoods, which are now a World Heritage Site.

Taylor is one of the main characters in the 2007 non-fiction book, The Wild Trees. This narrative included information about how Taylor began exploring for and measuring tall trees, along with information about his later networking with Pacific coast forest researchers.

Taylor also co-discovered the largest known coast redwood, "Lost Monarch" in the Grove of the Titans as well as "Iluvatar" in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Tallest tree discoveries
The "Helios" and "Icarus" trees were discovered shortly after the discovery of "Hyperion" in 2006. Hyperion was the record height coast redwood that prompted National Geographic and the Save-the-Redwoods League to create documentaries. These are just three of the many of coast redwoods over 350 ft tall which Michael Taylor discovered.

Largest Coast redwood discoveries
Taylor discovered and co-discovered the largest recorded coast redwoods. The locations of these have not currently been disclosed to the public by the National and California State Parks to protect the tree's environment and habitat.