Experts estimate that as much as 14% of mature giant sequoia were killed in Castle Fire
Preliminary studies from the National Park Service estimate that between 7,500 and 10,400 mature giant sequoia were killed in last year’s Castle Fire in the Sierra Nevada. This constitutes between 10% and 14% of the oldest and largest trees. This is stunning news, considering that giant sequoia have evolved to be highly resistant to fire. In recent years, the loss of just a few dozen giant sequoia was considered highly unusual.
While many factors, including climate change, contributed to the devastation, it is the unnatural buildup of vegetation due to decades of fire suppression in the Sierra Nevada that is the most immediate issue.
You can help
While this news is saddening, we can still take action to save the remaining trees. And we need your help.
- Please send an email to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service, asking for immediate action to protect our giant sequoia.
- Consider making a donation to the League’s Wildfire Fund, which will fund important measures to protect our coast redwood and giant sequoia forests, and make them more resilient in a time of future wildfires.
