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You Protected Noyo River Redwoods Forever!

Your support enabled the League to buy this forest along the Skunk Train route and transfer it to our partner for permanent protection.

A League member's phone call exemplified your commitment to the redwood forest. The Midwest gentleman called during the campaign to protect the wild, ancient and spectacular Noyo River Redwoods from imminent harvest. He asked, "How are we doing?" He felt part of the effort, as did thousands of you. The Noyo project generated an outpouring of support: 4,000 generous gifts, at least one from every state. Now this forest is under the permanent care of our partner, Mendocino Land Trust (MLT).

Your support enabled Save the Redwoods League to buy this remote, dense 426-acre forest (the size of 323 football fields) along the route of the historical Skunk Train for $7 million. Then, last month, according to plan, the League sold the property to MLT after that organization received a $4 million grant for the purchase from California's Wildlife Conservation Board. Thanks to your donations, the League was able to donate $3 million of the property's value, continuing our tradition of contributing funding when it's most needed to protect redwoods.

MLT will now care for and restore the forest with help from you and the League. Winston Bowen, President of MLT's Board of Trustees, said his organization aims to protect and enhance qualities such as its diverse plants and animals and huge ancient redwoods.

Your gifts to the Noyo campaign also help protect the Noyo River, the source of drinking water for Fort Bragg and a place for threatened coho salmon to spawn.

We will have ongoing restoration and stewardship costs. If you would like to continue to support this project, we are gladly accepting contributions. Donate $1,000 or more and you will be honored as a Noyo River Redwoods contributor on the donor recognition markers, soon to be revealed at the Willits and Fort Bragg Skunk Train depots. Work is underway on the markers.

You can see much of the Noyo River Redwoods by riding the Skunk Train from Willits to Northspur.

Thank you again for making a difference.

The Campaign to Protect the Noyo River Redwoods

The last surviving old redwoods in an important Mendocino County, California, forest faced harvest after April 1, 2011, so Save the Redwoods League raised $7 million to purchase the forest and $500,000 to cover stewardship, management and project costs.

The property contains about 30 percent of all remaining old forest in the Noyo River area.

This region has the fewest ancient redwood stands in the coast redwood range, which made its purchase a high priority according to our science-based Master Plan.

Protecting these redwoods also safeguards the wide variety of animals that depend on this complex forest for their survival. This project could provide habitat for threatened species such as the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet.

A Timber Harvest Plan had been approved for the property, and trees were marked for felling.

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Experience Rails Through the Redwoods

• Explore a map of the Noyo River Redwoods.
• Reserve a seat on the Skunk Train. (external link)
• Take our virtual video tour.