Kolloquium Eric Gorgens

In 2016, the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) started an initiative – the largest LiDAR campaign over the Amazon Rainforest. The ambitious undertaking was made possible through the support of the Amazon Fund, aiming to create a biomass map that would serve as a cornerstone for national communication on carbon emissions. Comprising over 900 transects, each covering 375 hectares, this campaign spanned both mature and secondary forest areas. During the process of data processing, the research team encountered records detailing the existence of very tall trees. From these intriguing revelations emerged a spin-off project in 2019 – an endeavor focused on pinpointing and documenting these Amazonian giants. The group's effort culminated in 2022 with the discovery of the tallest among them, over 88 meters. Since then, a wealth of publications has delved into this captivating theme (https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-023-01828-x/index.html).