Josh Kirsch standing beside a massive old tree in Alberta.

Alberta-wide tree record

Explore Alberta's most remarkable trees.

Ancient Roots Alberta is a modern platform built by Josh Kirsch to help people discover, document, and learn about remarkable trees across Alberta.

Live record
... and counting
verified heritage trees across Alberta Explore the map
Explore the Tree Map Find notable trees near you Create Account Save trees and build My Forest Submit a Tree Add a discovery to the record

What is Ancient Roots Alberta?

A public record for Alberta's Heritage Trees.

ARA documents Alberta's Heritage Trees and turns field discoveries into a public resource that people can explore, learn from, and add to.

01

Document detailed records

ARA records Heritage Trees with photos, measurements, species, GPS locations, and notes so the information is detailed and accurate.

02

Make the data public

ARA turns detailed tree data into a clear public resource that anyone can access and understand.

03

Help grow the record

As more people nominate trees, ARA can continue to grow into an Alberta wide resource built from real discoveries.

Large urban heritage tree in Edmonton
Urban heritage trees Many significant trees are in parks, streets, schoolyards, and green spaces people pass every day.
Large Douglas-fir trees in an Alberta forest
Wild fieldwork Backcountry and rural areas can reveal old growth, rare, and undiscovered trees worth recording.
Large willow tree used as a heritage tree record example
A growing public record Each record helps show what grows in Alberta, where remarkable trees are found, and why they matter.

Heritage tree guide

What is a Heritage Tree?

A Heritage Tree is a tree worth remembering, whether it stands out because of its size, age, story, rarity, shape, or the place where it grows.

Size and age

A tree can stand out for its girth, height, canopy spread, or age, but what counts as exceptional depends on the species.

History and story

Some trees matter because they are tied to a historic place, an event, a person, a neighbourhood, or a local story people remember.

Rare or unusual

A tree can also be worth documenting because it grows in a strange place, has an unusual form, is a rare species, or is simply unlike the trees around it.

Josh Kirsch beside the trunk of a large Alberta tree.

About the founder

My name is Josh Kirsch, and I’m a 17-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta, heading to the University of Alberta this fall to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Forest Business Management. I’m also honoured to be a 2026 Schulich Leader, one of 100 students recognized annually across Canada for academic excellence and entrepreneurial impact in STEM related studies. Long before I started Ancient Roots Alberta, I was just a kid who loved trees. Even to this day, I never get tired of going on adventures to discover amazing trees across our province.

Read My Story Read the Blog

Create your account

Join the community behind Ancient Roots Alberta.

You can browse the public map without an account, but signing up unlocks the tools for building your own tree record.

Sign Up / Log In

Coming soon

The mobile app is on its way.

The web platform is live now, and the next major step is a mobile version built for field use.

Mobile devices

A smoother ARA experience for phones and tablets.

Field tools

Tools designed for documenting trees while you are outside.

Faster nominations

A better way to submit trees, photos, notes, and location details from the field.