Colorado Tree Coalition's Champion Tree Registry

How to Nominate a Champion Tree

The annual deadline for nominations is November 1. All tree owners must be contacted, and all nominations must be verified prior to submittal. For a complete listing of verifiers in your area, please see list of verifiers. 

Complete a Colorado Tree Coalition Champion Tree Program Nomination Form 

• Click here for Microsoft Word document (.doc) 
• Click here for an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf)
• Click here for a rich text file (.rtf)

Or record all of the following information:

• Tree Identification – Identify the tree with both common and scientific name, including genus, species and variety or cultivar designation if known.
• Tree Measurement – Take the circumference at 4 ½’ above ground level (in inches), the total height (in feet) and average crown spread (in feet.) For more information, see “How to Measure a Tree.” 
• Exact Location of Tree – In urban areas, include the street address and the location of the tree on the property (backyard, street tree, etc.). In rural areas, include specific directions to the tree, section numbers, GPS or topo coordinates, and location in reference to any highways, trails, campgrounds or geographic features. For all trees, include the county name and nearest municipality. All trees must include a detailed map with specific tree location marked.
• Photographs – All nominations must include a color photograph of the tree. Try to place an item (camera case, etc.) next to the trunk as a reference for size. Slides or prints are preferred. Digital image files of 100k or less may be emailed to nbamesberg@hotmail.com. By submitting photos you grant the Colorado Tree Coalition permission to post the images on the web at www.coloradotrees.org. 
• Other Information - Names and addresses of nominator, owner, verifier, date of measurement, comments on the tree’s condition and any other relevant information known.

Once the verifier has checked the tree’s identification and measurements, have him/her sign the nomination form and submit it to the CTC.

Your nomination will be reviewed after the annual deadline. If your tree has the highest total points for its type (according to the American Forests formula), you’ll receive a letter of congratulations and a certificate. If the tree is not the largest, your nomination will be kept on file. If the tree is a national champion candidate, your nomination will be forwarded to American Forests for consideration.

Updating Tree Information

State champion trees should be checked and re-measured at least every 10 years. If you’re re-measuring a tree, please send an email to nbamesberg@hotmail.com, listing the exact location of the tree, the new (verified) measurements, and any other new information about the tree’s condition, owners, etc.