Jaq Payne served as the Director of the Tennessee Champion Tree Program from 2021 to mid-2023. His unique background in Theatre, Project Management, and Business Leadership is the foundation of his creative, community-centered approach to conservation work.

Former Tennessee Champion Tree Program Director and UT graduate Jaq Payne will lead the national program as the newly appointed director. He believes UTIA is uniquely positioned to be a hub for Champion Tree research.

2024年1月18日 · Former Tennessee Champion Tree Program Director and UT graduate Jaq Payne will lead the national program as the newly appointed director. He believes UTIA is uniquely positioned to be a hub for Champion Tree research.

2024年2月5日 · “There’s a lot of questions that we have about the physiology and biology of our largest trees. We don’t really know the upper limits of what these trees can do,” says Jaq Payne, the newly appointed director of the National Champion Tree Program. “So, I think there’s a lot of room for research and collaboration there.”

Jaq Payne, a second-year masters student studying urban forestry, began the internship in 2021 and is the current student director of the program. They elaborated on the purpose behind such data collection and discussed how the organization's intentions extend greater than to just call attention to large trees.

2021年10月27日 · Jaq Payne, student director of the Tennessee Champion Tree Program, stands in front of the state champion Monkey Puzzle tree in Nashville. The Monkey Puzzle is a non-native evergreen ornamental with thick leaves and an open branching pattern.

38 Followers, 71 Following, 1 Posts - Jaq Payne (@jaq.trees) on Instagram: "speaking out on behalf of the biggest trees in the United States, community-focused conservation, seasoned tree-hugger 🌳🌲🌴💚"

Champion Trees are the largest trees of their species, and they serve as a testament to the rich history and diversity of the American landscape. These trees can be found in every state, from towering redwoods in California to massive oaks on the East Coast.

2024年2月5日 · Prior to taking the position as national director, Payne, who recently graduated with his Master’s in Forestry from UT, was the Tennessee state director for the Champion Tree Program. He remembers with fondness the 2021 Tennessee Champion White Oak, which was determined by UT scientists to be over 400 years old.