President and Chief Enthusiast for the Outdoors (CEO) of Save the Redwoods League, Sam brings more than 25 years of experience in overseeing land conservation programs from the remote wilderness to the inner city.
Redwoods restoration can integrate climate adaptation into economic recovery As Governor Newsom and California’s lawmakers grapple with how best to mitigate impacts of COVID-19 on our lives, health and the economy, the people of our state have voted with their … Continued
According to California’s stay-home order, our staff has been working remotely, pursuing our vision that’s built on a foundation of hope and healing.
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It is my sincere hope that you and your loved ones are well and taking good care in these uncertain times.
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The following is an edited version of a speech delivered at an event in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2020, announcing the public phase of Forever Forest: The Campaign for the Redwoods.
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It is frightening to consider that Australia’s summer is just beginning, and that there is little hope for rain in the coming months across much of the continent.
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And now, we can announce the pending acquisition of the largest unprotected sequoia grove. Alder Creek is located near Camp Nelson off Highway 190, and is surrounded by the Giant Sequoia National Monument. It’s no exaggeration to call Alder Creek a crown jewel of the giant sequoia. In both size and conservation value, it is comparable to the famous Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park’s iconic giant sequoia stand.
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In the most comprehensive assessment of its kind, the United Nations (UN) paints a bleak picture, describing a future in which 1 million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction — unless we make transformative changes now.
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The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), our nation’s most successful conservation and recreation funding program, was permanently reauthorized. This is a resounding and historic win for land conservation from coast to coast and for our redwoods here in California!
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As we reflect on 2018 — the Centennial year for Save the Redwoods League — I’m excited to share some of the many successes that you made possible.
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Our hearts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires here in California. We watched with shock, horror, and sadness as these fires uprooted families, burned homes, and took lives.
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Thank you for being a part of the League family and for joining us at the many events and activities held during Centennial Celebration Week from October 7–14! All of us at the League have enjoyed meeting so many dedicated members and supporters and celebrating a century of work together during this special week.
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It has been 100 years since the founders of Save the Redwoods League first resolved to protect California’s redwood forests — a mission that would build momentum for America’s conservation movement and create and expand world-renowned redwood parks — crown jewels of the state and national park systems. So now, in our Centennial year, we’re hosting a week-long celebration October 7-14, 2018 to honor that legacy, renew our commitment to protecting and restoring these remarkable forests, and celebrate the dedication of all those who came before us to save the redwoods.
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Nestled in the wooded hills just a few miles inland from the Sonoma coast lies an oasis of towering old-growth coast redwoods. It is a humbling, inspiring, and spectacularly beautiful place. This pristine 730-acre forest, as large as San Francisco Bay’s Angel Island, is the Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve.
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Marking a critical moment in the 100-year history of Save the Redwoods League and the future of redwood forest conservation, we are releasing two defining documents: our State of Redwoods Conservation Report and Centennial Vision for Redwoods Conservation. They are the result of bold, aspirational visioning, robust strategic planning by the Council and Board of Directors of Save the Redwoods League, and extensive scientific research conducted by the League’s professional staff and partners.
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Redwood National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — over the last five decades the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) helped protect them all. We need your help to tell Members of Congress to support LWCF and renew the program before it ends in September 2018.
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With 280 parks across 1.6 million acres, hosting more than 74 million visitors last fiscal year alone, California is one of the largest state park systems in the United States. In a focused and comprehensive effort to keep these world-class parks open and thriving, seasoned leaders from California State Parks and outside entities helped plan for and implement 60 ambitious initiatives, from a new state-of-the-art reservation system to increased protections and improvements for the parks statewide. Here are just some of the improvements for redwood state parks.
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As we celebrate Latino Conservation Week, we’re inspired by the more than 100 events held across the country at national and state parks, wildlife refuges, and monuments to encourage everyone to explore the outdoors and learn how to protect our shared public lands.
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The effort to save the giant sequoia groves of California began over 150 years ago. We were recently reminded that job is never done. In April, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the review of all national monument designations occurring after January 1, 1996, where the monument exceeds 100,000 acres. Shortly after, the Department of the Interior confirmed that Giant Sequoia National Monument is on that list along with 26 others.
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With the Trump administration passing its first 100-day mark, there came a whirlwind of commentary about how those first 100 days stacked up. Given that the 100-day measure coincided with Earth Day, the March for Science, Arbor Day, and the Climate March, much of the attention focused on the new administration’s stance on the environment. Last week, at the confluence of these events, the administration released an executive order, revealing a great deal about its perspective on the purpose and value of our public lands.
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There is one element of David Rockefeller’s story that you will likely only read here: that he was there, standing among the redwoods with early Save the Redwoods League leaders when their conservation story began nearly 100 years ago.
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