For the latest updates, read our news releases for press and media!
Chris Swanston, Ph.D., has been named director of science, a key position for Save the Redwoods League, one of the nation’s first science-based conservation organizations. The League relies on high-quality scientific research to inform its protection and restoration efforts across the coast redwood and giant sequoia ranges.
A statement from Steve Mietz, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League
Scenic trail featuring redwoods and a waterfall reopens–for a second time–after reconstruction of the trail’s damaged pedestrian bridge
Continued Giant Sequoia Emergency Highlights Need for Renewed Federal and State Resources
Statement in support of the California Legislature investing GGRF funds in nature-based strategies, including redwood forest restoration and resilience, in the FY2026 state budget
New season explores how redwoods guide us toward a deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.
Statement in response to the FY2026 federal budget proposal that aims to redirect $900 million in annual funding away from intended land conservation and public access initiatives
Save the Redwoods League announced today that Ben Friedman has been promoted to director of government affairs and public funding. His position is key to supporting the programmatic capacity of the League, which works to protect and restore coast redwood and giant sequoia ecosystems. Friedman will report to Paul Ringgold, chief program officer.
The Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park Expansion is now officially protected, thanks to the efforts of Save the Redwoods League and its partners! This 1,517-acre addition secures vital redwood forest, wildlife habitat, and salmon streams in Sonoma County. Thanks to the generous support of the California Wildlife Conservation Board and our incredible partners, this land will be permanently protected and eventually opened for public access.
In three years, coalition members completed treatments in more than half of the world’s giant sequoia groves. Restoration will improve wildfire resilience for the iconic species. More action is still needed.
The ESA is under threat. A new federal proposal could remove habitat protection from the definition of “harm”—putting wildlife at risk. Comment by 5/19 to protect our forests and the species within.
Mark your calendars and start making plans to join California State Parks and partners in celebrating the fourth annual California State Parks Week from June 11-15. Presented by California State Parks, California State Parks Foundation, Parks California and Save the Redwoods League, this exciting weeklong celebration with the tagline “This is Where You Live” offers more than 170 events, including both in-person and virtual experiences, highlighting the people, places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly unique.
Save the Redwoods League supports the bipartisan Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act, important legislation that empowers federal, Tribal, state and nonprofit partners to accelerate forest restoration, reduce hazardous fuels and safeguard the world’s largest trees from the increasingly destructive wildfires in California’s Sierra Nevada.
Forests need site-specific, science-based stewardship, not broad emergency declarations. As a conservation organization focused on restoring complex forest ecosystems in the coast redwood and giant sequoia ranges, Save the Redwoods League agrees with the USDA that the nation faces a serious crisis of forest health and wildfire risk—one that the USDA Forest Service is well positioned to address. However, the USDA Secretary’s April memo problematically blurs the line between ecological restoration, which aims to heal ecosystems, and timber harvest for commercial gain, which prioritizes extraction and profit over long-term forest health.
A new report, Assessing the Restoration Economy within Redwood National and State Parks, highlights the economic opportunities created by large-scale restoration efforts in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. As the region moves beyond its history of industrial-scale logging, programs like Redwoods Rising and ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway are driving economic growth through environmental restoration. Led by Save the Redwoods League and California State Parks, these initiatives are bringing revenue, quality jobs, and lasting conservation benefits to Northern California’s redwood country—helping to revitalize an economically disadvantaged area while restoring one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems.
Save the Redwoods League announced today that its board has selected veteran national park and public lands conservation leader Steve Mietz as the new president and CEO of the century-old nonprofit. Mietz will join the League on April 28 and carry forward the organization’s mission to protect, restore and connect people to the iconic coast redwood and giant sequoia forests of California. Most recently, Mietz served as superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) for nearly eight years.
Save the Redwoods League has secured an opportunity to conserve the 1,517-acre Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion property in Sonoma County. Less than two hours north of San Francisco, the Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion will link more than 22,000 acres of coastal redwoods forest, wildlife corridors and watershed, from the Bohemian Highway to the Sonoma Coast and north to Jenner Headlands.
After 11 years leading one of the nation’s oldest and most beloved conservation organizations, Sam Hodder announced today that he has decided to step down as president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League on March 31, 2025, at the close of the organization’s current fiscal year. A search for the League’s next leader will commence immediately, led by Vice Chair of the League’s Board of Directors Rosemary Cameron.
SANTA CRUZ — California State Parks and Save the Redwoods League today released a new Forest Management Strategy (FMS) aimed at restoring and protecting three state parks in Santa Cruz County following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. The devastating wildfire burned through more than 24,000 acres in Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo and Butano state parks. The FMS outlines critical actions needed to help the forests recover and to improve wildfire and climate resilience in the parks and neighboring communities.
Save the Redwoods League today announced that it has purchased three coast redwood properties totaling 750 acres in Sonoma and Mendocino counties that will one day be added to Armstrong Redwoods and Montgomery Woods state natural reserves (SNR). The League acquired the properties from private landowners, the Ayers and Robinson families and the Mendocino Redwood Company for nearly $3.5 million. The acquisitions are the first steps toward long-term protection for these coast redwood properties.
Save the Redwoods League (League) has secured an opportunity to purchase, permanently protect and restore the 1,624-acre Sonoma Coast Redwoods property, home to significant mature second-growth coast redwood forest, biodiverse coastal prairies, ocean views and opportunities for future public access.
Two publications discuss the substantial risk of losing portions of sequoia groves due to high tree mortality rates and inadequate natural recovery
Californians will vote on a $10 billion climate bond to invest in safe drinking water, wildfire resilience, and clean air. Climate action is up to all of us this November.
We call on Governor Newsom and the CA Legislature to do the right thing for all Californians: place a climate bond measure on the ballot!
Expanded season showcases emerging environmental leaders from diverse backgrounds and their careers among California’s redwood and sequoia forests
Save the Redwoods League today announced the hiring of two new staff in key positions: Kirsten Saenz Tobey as chief operations officer and Carrie Speckart as director of people and culture.
The addition of the 80-acre Rocky Ridge parcel brings old-growth redwoods, the Montgomery Creek headwaters, peregrine falcon habitat, and 360-degree views to Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve in Mendocino. This marks the first transfer of League-conserved land to California State Parks in over a decade.
With more than 200 special community events at parks across the state, the public is invited to celebrate the third annual California State Parks Week
A landmark memorandum of understanding has been signed in a historic first step toward returning tribal land back to its original steward, the Yurok Tribe.
In just two years, coalition members have completed treatments in half of the giant sequoia acreage and planted more than 542,000 native trees
Save the Redwoods League joined a chorus of conservation groups today in calling for the California State Legislature to place a $15 billion climate bond on the November 2024 ballot. Such a bond would fund programs that improve and protect water and air quality, strengthen community climate resilience, mitigate wildfires, provide recreational access to the outdoors and protect natural resources.
In Northern California, the famed coastal Highway 101 winds through some of the world’s last ancient coast redwood forest. For decades, a 3.5-mile section of the highway between Eureka and Crescent City, known as Last Chance Grade, has been plagued by landslides and frequent closures, with no viable alternate routes for the local community, commerce or tourism. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has been working with local stakeholders for 10 years on a solution. Tragically, their final two roadway alternatives will have substantial impacts on nearby old-growth redwood forest.
Save the Redwoods League announced today that Georgia McIntosh has been named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. In this key leadership role, McIntosh will oversee organization-wide strategic communications and marketing programs to support the mission, strategic direction and brand positioning of the only nonprofit land trust working across the entire coast redwood and giant sequoia ranges.
Trees resprout from ancient buds—dormant under bark for centuries—and utilize decades-old carbon reserves.
New canopy photos show prolific redwood tree regrowth since the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fires
A gateway to the western coastal side of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the new welcome center facility and adjacent public campground will greet visitors to California’s oldest state park and largest expanse of old-growth coast redwoods south of San Francisco. The park has had limited access since the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fires.
Save the Redwoods League is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation renewal. A public comment period is now open. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever.
Save the Redwoods League today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Sara Clark to serve as chair. The Board also elected Rosemary Cameron and Abe Tarapani to serve as vice chairs, John Montague as secretary and Mike Wyatt as treasurer. The newly elected officers are vastly experienced in land conservation, tribal law, parks and public engagement, scientific research and philanthropy. They will advance conservation strategies that protect, restore and connect people with California’s coast redwood and giant sequoia forests.
More than 2,000 donors from across the U.S. helped protect redwoods and 1 mile of Russian River frontage
Save the Redwoods League, and the National Park Service today announced the restoration of 3,200 acres of young, previously clear-cut redwood forest in the first five years of Redwoods Rising. The unique public-private collaborative effort with a long-term goal of restoring thousands of acres in Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) has reforested more than 25 miles of former commercial logging roads, restored more than 3 miles of streams, and created more than 100 restoration and conservation jobs.
Dollar-for-dollar challenge launches Save the Redwoods League fundraising campaign to secure $6.5 million by Sept. 30
The nonprofit seeks to raise $6.5 million to protect 1 mile of Russian River frontage
by September 30
To continue providing unique and inspirational park experiences for millions of visitors every year and investing in our climate resilience, state legislators need to uphold California’s legacy of conservation leadership and deliver adequate funding for California State Parks.
The League is thrilled to once again offer starter grants to underrepresented graduate and undergraduate students to nurture a diversity of perspectives in redwoods research. We have selected nine interesting and well-designed projects that will increase knowledge of the effects of climate change and fire on forest communities and allow us to better understand the interactions of life within redwood forests.
Parks across California are celebrating the second annual California State Parks Week. Visit CAStateParksWeek.org for a list of special community events being hosted by a park near you.
Linneth Lim has been named chief financial officer (CFO) of Save the Redwoods League. Lim oversees all aspects of the League’s finances and is responsible for advising on all fiscal matters behind the League’s work to protect, restore and connect all people with California’s coast redwood and giant sequoia forests. Lim reports to President and CEO Sam Hodder, and she will be a key strategic partner on the nonprofit organization’s senior leadership team.
This season, we will uncover inspirational stories about creating your place in the outdoors and building community for others, with guests’ unique connection to the redwoods. While “l’ll Go If You Go” is made for all, we particularly wanted to showcase members of underrepresented communities engaging with these incredible natural places that have been protected by and for all of us. It all circles back to the name of the podcast-if people see themselves in others who are spending time doing fun things in the redwoods, they’ll be more likely to feel welcome giving it a try.
Save the Redwoods League has transferred its 160-acre Red Hill property to the USDA Forest Service so that it may be protected and managed by the Forest Service as part of Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest.
Coalition members took emergency actions to treat 4,257 acres and plant more than 248,000 of native conifers throughout the giant sequoia range to begin to restore wildfire resilience for the iconic species. More action is needed.
Save the Redwoods League today announced that Jeffrey Hoelsken has joined the organization as general counsel. Hoelsken is responsible for protecting the League’s legal interests and maintaining its operations. He provides strategic counsel to the Board of Directors, senior management and staff. He also acts as liaison with outside counsel in real estate transactions, litigation and organizational governance.
Save the Redwoods League today announced that it has entrusted Mother Lode Land Trust (MLLT) with the long-term stewardship of Bennett Juniper, the largest juniper and one of the oldest known trees in the world. The League donated the 3,000-year-old tree and surrounding 3-acre property to MLLT. The Bennett Juniper property has been stewarded by the League since 1987.
Save the Redwoods League and the USDA Forest Service have signed a partnership agreement to accelerate stewardship activities in the threatened giant sequoia range. Under this stewardship agreement, the League will lead restoration efforts to reduce the wildfire risk in two giant sequoia groves in partnership with the Forest Service. One of the groves is among the 12 cited in the Forest Service “emergency action” announced in July 2022.
Save the Redwoods League has secured an opportunity to purchase a conservation easement on the 3,862-acre Weger Ranch. Weger Ranch shares a 1.25-mile border with Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve. This conservation easement will enable the League to buffer the old-growth redwoods in the park and expand redwood conservation in this vital corner of the coast redwood range.
As part of a new initiative to protect redwood forests and enhance recreational opportunities at Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve in Mendocino County, Save the Redwoods League has purchased Atkins Place, a 453-acre coast redwood forest adjacent to the reserve, and partnered with California State Parks on significant improvements to the park.
7.3 miles of multi-use trails open Saturday, December 3, with free registration pass required. Pre-registration period begins October 3.
Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced a necessary emergency action to initiate fuels reduction treatments in the next 18 to 20 months to protect giant sequoia groves from immediate wildfire threats.
Thousands of park visitors passed through the Pioneer’s Cabin Tree on foot and horseback and by carriage and motorcar. But the famous sequoia toppled five years ago, after a period of heavy rain and high winds. A new exhibit commemorates 1,233-year-old fallen “tunnel tree” in Calaveras Big Trees State Park — it opens on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
The bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act authorizes emergency measures and funding that will enable federal agencies, tribal organizations and nonprofits to do the work on the ground to protect these irreplaceable natural treasures from the unprecedented wildfires that have become a regular occurrence in the Sierra Nevada.
Blom to oversee care and restoration of coast redwood and giant sequoia forests to improve their health and promote wildfire, climate resilience
Parks across the state will offer special community events with in-person and virtual programming from June 14-18, 2022.
Realigned Mill Creek Trail and new boardwalk through the famed grove now open for visitors to Redwood National and State Parks
In 25 years of granting, scientific findings inform stewardship and land management efforts in both forest ranges
The Atkins Place property is a critical habitat corridor, connecting Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve and Bureau of Land Management protected lands.
Save the Redwoods League today announced that its Forever Forest Campaign raised more than $139 million, surpassing its five-year goal of $120 million. More than 50,000 individuals and organizations from around the world contributed to the campaign toward conservation across the coast redwood and giant sequoia ranges.
Parks across the state will offer special community events with in-person and virtual programming from June 14-18, 2022.
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and conservation partners plan opening of initial 8.5 miles of multi-use public access trails on San Vicente Redwoods in fall 2022
Save the Redwoods League today announced that Jennifer Tapken has been named chief operating officer. Tapken will oversee and direct all aspects of the League’s human resources and operations needs while advancing the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion values. Tapken brings more than 15 years of human resources and operations experience to the growing nonprofit, one of the country’s oldest conservation organizations.
Save the Redwoods League today launches the second season of its groundbreaking podcast, “I’ll Go If You Go,” taking listeners on an audio adventure tour through California’s iconic coast redwood and giant sequoia forests.
With the transfer, Tribal Consortium returns indigenous guardianship to Sinkyone lands on Mendocino Coast and strengthens partnership to collaborate on long-term eco-cultural stewardship.
Potential for future public access along the famed Lost Coast: Protection of Lost Coast Redwoods and its 5 miles of iconic California coastline at the southern gateway to the 57-mile-long undeveloped Lost Coast is a critical investment in California’s biodiversity, climate resilience and equitable access to nature.
The coast redwood is the world’s tallest tree, and its genome is among the most complex sequenced. Nearly nine times larger than the human genome, it is also the second largest genome sequenced.
The League has negotiated an agreement to buy the ecologically and culturally significant coastal landscape from timberland owner Soper Company. The nonprofit must raise $36.9 million by December 31 to fund the purchase and secure a total of $43.4 million to support the stewardship of the property as part of the protected mosaic of California’s famed Lost Coast.
According to data compiled by the Giant Sequoia Coalition, 28 giant sequoia groves experienced fire from the 2021 KNP Complex and Windy fires, and these fires killed up to 5% of world’s giant sequoia that are at least four feet in diameter. When combined with estimates that as much as 14% of the world’s monarchs were killed in the 2020 Castle Fire, the numbers paint a grim future for these natural treasures unless immediate action is taken.
Four Bay Area-based nonprofit organizations will commemorate 10 years of collaborative conservation and restoration of the property.
Joanna Nelson, Ph.D., has been named director of science and conservation planning. This is a key staff position for the League, one of the nation’s first science-based conservation organizations. The League relies on high-quality scientific research to inform its protection and restoration of the coast redwood and giant sequoia ecosystems.
Save the Redwoods League released new drought severity maps that show most of the coast redwood and giant sequoia forests—the world’s tallest and largest trees—are experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions. These are potentially dangerous, dry conditions for these iconic forests.
Sempervirens Fund announced today that they have secured approvals and critical post-fire funding to remove a dam from Mill Creek. CEMEX, the former owner of what is now San Vicente Redwoods, retains water and infrastructure rights on the property, and approved the dam removal. Deconstruction will begin later this summer.
Today Governor Gavin Newsom announced a bold, responsible investment in funding for land conservation, forest restoration, climate adaptation, wildfire resilience and recovery. Funding will acquire new State Park land, restore fire resilience in California’s forests and launch renewed future for Big Basin and other state parks impacted by last year’s wildfires.
Save the Redwoods League awarded nearly $160,000 in grant funding for 2021 research projects in California that will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about coast redwood and giant sequoia forests.
With California’s record-breaking wildfires of 2020 still fresh in the memory of legislators, Gov. Gavin Newsom has earmarked $1 billion in his proposed budget to address the need for forest restoration, fire prevention and recovery.
With California’s record-breaking wildfires of 2020 still fresh in the memory of legislators, Gov. Gavin Newsom has earmarked $1 billion in his proposed budget to address the need for forest restoration, fire prevention and recovery.
Richardson Grove State Park is dear to our hearts. Save the Redwoods League was instrumental in protecting its old-growth redwoods for generations of park visitors to enjoy. We have been following the proposed widening of Highway 101 with great interest …
Sempervirens Fund announced today that they have secured approvals and critical post-fire funding to remove a dam from Mill Creek. CEMEX, the former owner of what is now San Vicente Redwoods, retains water and infrastructure rights on the property, and approved the dam removal. Deconstruction will begin later this summer.
Save the Redwoods League today announced the completion of the purchase of Cascade Creek, a 564-acre property between Big Basin Redwoods and Año Nuevo State Parks. The $9.6 million project — including both land acquisition, closing and initial stewardship costs — marks a keystone connection for protected habitat from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It also advances the League’s goal of protecting the last of the old-growth redwood forest as identified in their 2018 Centennial Vision for Redwoods Conservation.
Save the Redwoods League today announced the completion of the purchase of Cascade Creek, a 564-acre property between Big Basin Redwoods and Año Nuevo State Parks. The $9.6 million project — including both land acquisition, closing and initial stewardship costs — marks a keystone connection for protected habitat from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It also advances the League’s goal of protecting the last of the old-growth redwood forest as identified in their 2018 Centennial Vision for Redwoods Conservation.
Save the Redwoods League and Mendocino Land Trust today announced the reopening of the Peter Douglas Trail through the Shady Dell candelabra redwood trees in Mendocino County. This reopening follows more than a year of restoration and repair efforts to Usal Road and the Peter Douglas Trail that were damaged in the 2019 Usal Fire.
Save the Redwoods League today announced Redwoods Research Starter Grants of up to $5,000 for undergraduate and graduate students of color interested in research in coast redwood and giant sequoia forests. Proposals are due December 1, 2020.
Save the Redwoods League announced the purchase of Andersonia West, a 523-acre property in the remote northern California area known as “the Lost Coast.” The newly acquired property protects 200 acres of old-growth coast redwoods and imperiled species habitat.
Save the Redwoods League, the National Park Service and California State Parks today announced the next steps in on-the-ground restoration work by Redwoods Rising, a large-scale forest restoration partnership underway in Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP). Beginning next week, Redwoods Rising crews will work in two watersheds within the park boundaries—representing a significant milestone for this long-term forest health initiative and bringing forestry jobs to this northern California region.
Policymakers in California and all over the world are exploring the potential of natural solutions to the climate change crisis, particularly the role forests play in storing carbon in their wood as they grow. Recent findings bolster research confirming massive carbon storage in old-growth redwood forests and potential of younger, previously logged forests.
Jessica Little will engage with government and agency partners to develop policies advancing the League’s strategic objectives, as well as to seek public funding in support of fulfilling those objectives.
Redwoods play a key role in the state’s fight against climate change by storing more carbon per acre than any other forest type in the world
Campaign will protect Cascade Creek property in Santa Cruz County, create new redwoods park and support restoration of 70,000+ acres
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