Author Archives: Kristina Malsberger

Kristina Malsberger works to enliven the conversation around conservation as the Writer/Storyteller & Editor at Save the Redwoods League.

Bright blue water travels through underground roots and up the trunk of a redwood tree in this animation of water transportation in the redwoods

New documentary reveals secrets of California redwoods

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They only had to wait a few thousand years, but the redwoods are finally getting their moment in the cinematic spotlight. California’s big trees are the stars of Giants Rising, a new feature-length documentary that will make its Bay Area …

A man and a baby, both wearing knitted caps, sitting on a bench in a giant sequoia forest

11 unique baby names inspired by the redwoods

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Around the League office, a baby on the way is exciting news. So when our land stewardship manager, Anthony Castaños, announced that he and his wife were expecting a wee one, the staff was a-twitter. Should we knit a tiny …

A mountain lions talks across an open grassy field surrounded by forest

Caught on camera: Majestic elk, playful fawns, slinky pumas

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Something wonderful happens when a redwood forest is protected. Just ask the black bears, coyotes, and mountain lions padding past the League’s wildlife cameras at Lost Coast Redwoods. These creatures can be seen loping down former logging roads or nosing …

Red Hill Grove provides critical habitat for a wide variety of rare, threatened and endangered species, including the northern spotted owl. Photo by Tom Kogut/USFS, Flickr Creative Commons

Celebrating 50 years of the Endangered Species Act

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Oil prices were skyrocketing. Gerald Ford was stepping into Spiro Agnew’s tarnished VP shoes. The Exorcist was nominated for Best Picture. Such was the national landscape on December 28, 1973, when President Richard Nixon signed one of the country’s most …

in a snowy forest, a man in a bright red jacket is drawfed by the massive reddish-brown trunk of a giant sequoia

“12 Days of Redwoods” a sing-along for forest fans

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Imagine a small child, eagerly unwrapping a holiday package—and discovering the toy of their dreams. That wide-eyed wonder. That giddy excitement. It’s how many of us at Save the Redwoods League feel when we step into a redwood forest. Like …

A man in a navy blue fleece hugs the trunk of a redwood tree

Top 4 reasons to give thanks for redwoods

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Somehow it’s easy to forget to say thank you. Even with an entire holiday devoted to giving thanks, we often fail to slow down and appreciate the things that truly make our lives better. Things like family, friends, democracy, chocolate …

Three women in aprons stand with three young girls in dresses in front of a wooden structure, circa late 1800s/early 1900s.

Spooky redwoods ghost town remains “a presence”

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Imagine a quintessential ghost town: Tumbleweeds rolling down a dusty main street, a saloon door creaking in the dry prairie wind. The Falk ghost town was something else entirely—a damp and eerie outpost shrouded in the mists of Northern California’s …

Hendy Woods

10 spots for a natural high in Mendocino County

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This rugged swath of Northern California is famous for spectacular stands of coast redwoods that hypnotize visitors with their pinch-me-I’m-dreaming beauty. These remaining old-growth giants give the groves in neighboring Humboldt County a run for their money, plus they’re a more doable three-hour drive from the San Francisco Bay Area. Add in nearby beachcombing, wine tasting, and sightseeing in coastal hamlets, and you’ve got a recipe for an incredible weekend getaway.

Russian River

A river runs to it

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Securing a bright future for one of Sonoma County’s tallest redwoods—and its up-and-coming kin—at Russian River Redwoods

Daen Wombwell standing in front of an ancient redwood tree.

The man who kept his promise

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“I had no idea the redwoods are the best harvesters of carbon dioxide of any forest type in the world.” Whatever it takes to revive the redwoods, Wombwell is in. “If you need me to plant trees,” he says with a grin, “I’ll put on my Wellie boots.” Wombwell’s advice? “If you care about the forests, the climate, Indigenous peoples, wildlife, even the hiking and biking trails, take that step and donate.” To inspire new members of Save the Redwoods League’s Canopy Club the Wombwell family will match new gifts of $10,000 or more up to $750,000.

Two young people pose for a selfie in front of tall redwood trees.

First experience of old-growth redwoods is “mind-blowing”

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It was a classic California road-trip: Two good friends, a Taylor Swift soundtrack, scenic vistas, one flat tire. But for Sara Williams and Adrian Fausto, the journey north to Humboldt County was the start of a larger adventure—a quest to …

A woman sits on a rock in the middle of a creek

Beat the heat at these cool redwood parks

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“Head for the beach!” That’s the message triggered in the human brain once temperatures push past 80 degrees. But can beaches get packed during heat waves, and they often lack shelter from harsh UV rays. Not to mention the sand …

Cover of the book "Must Love Trees: An Unconventional Guide," by Tobin Mitnick

Tree book hits funny bone

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Unlike banana peels and hand buzzers, trees aren’t exactly known as a source of laughs. But in his debut book, Must Love Trees: An Unconventional Guide, Tobin Mitnick finds plenty of funny in the forest, along with much to admire …

A vintage black locomotive heads through the redwoods and straight toward the camera

Vintage trains are your ticket to the redwoods

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Who says time travel is impossible? These vintage trains transport passengers to the early days of California, when steam-powered locomotives thundered across the state and “All aboard!” was an invitation to adventure. Railways that once brought massive redwood trees to …