The Redwood Transect Project
On the World Stage: The Plight of the Redwoods
J. Michael (Mike) Fay walked nearly 1,800 miles, collecting data critical to understanding the ecology, history and current state of the redwood forest.
Canopy Pioneer Steve Sillett EXPLORER: Climbing Redwood Giants Capturing a Redwood

Save the Redwoods League is strengthening a 91-year partnership with two of its founding organizations—the Wildlife Conservation Society and the National Geographic Society—by contributing to an unprecedented redwoods study that is expected to capture attention worldwide.

In September and October 2009, more than 100 million people are projected to learn about threats to redwoods from these three partner organizations. The October issue of National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Channel’s EXPLORER: Climbing Redwood Giants tell the story of the pioneering study called The Redwood Transect.”

The study of the transect, a continuous strip of sample area the length of the entire coast redwood range, was conducted by J. Michael (Mike) Fay, Wildlife Conservation Society Senior Conservationist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. He reinvigorated the three organizations’ partnership to highlight redwoods’ exploitation and spur changes in how forests are used globally.

Redwood forests face threats from poorly planned development, unsustainable logging practices and global climate change, among others.

“We hope that National Geographic’s redwoods coverage will inspire a new generation of conservationists to explore the unique redwood forests and experience their beauty today, tomorrow and in the future,” said Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director of Save the Redwoods League.

Learn More about Redwood Transect, Save the Redwoods League

Get Involved

  • New Forum: Discuss The Redwood Transect project, share your redwood memories and voice your hopes for redwood conservation.
  • New Interactive Redwoods Map: Plan your next visit to featured redwood parks and read park profiles about activities, trails, hidden gems and must-sees.
  • Do Your Own Transect: Download our free guide, The Redwood Highway, Sights and Experiences between California’s Southern Humboldt County and Crescent City. Get kids involved and use our Exploring Places activity.
  • Learn More: Check out our new Redwoods Teacher Tool Kit and take advatage of our free redwoods education materials.
  • Share Your Redwoods Photos: Join our Flickr group.
  • Join Our Community: Send free redwoods e-cards, join us on Facebook and more.
  • Our Founders: Three prominent conservationists united in 1917 to save the redwoods.
  • Donate Now: Help save redwoods from unsustainable logging practices, poorly planned  development and other threats.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Redwood Transect is the latest project among organizations whose collaboration began more than 90 years ago. In 1918, leaders from the Wildlife Conservation Society and National Geographic Society joined with other noted conservationists to start the movement to save the coast redwoods by founding Save the Redwoods League.

The June 1920 issue of National Geographic magazine includes the article, “Saving the Redwoods,” by Madison Grant, one of Save the Redwoods League’s founders. This article helped launch the movement to save redwoods.

The National Geographic Society has a long history of advocating for protection of the redwoods, including providing funding that was instrumental in charting boundaries for Redwood National Park in 1963, outreach to Congress in 1977 to expand the existing park, and mobilization of donations to adopt a grove of trees in 1981.

Next » New TV Show Explores Redwoods from the Ground to Crown

 

Since 1918, Save the Redwoods League has saved ancient redwood forests and redwood ecosystems to ensure that current and future generations can feel the awe and peace that these precious natural wonders inspire. We also save redwoods because they are rare — their natural range is only in central and northern California and southern Oregon — and because they are Earth’s tallest and some of the oldest and most massive living beings.