Redwood Matters

New Study Provides Coast Redwood Climate Forecast

on

Understanding how climate change impacts the world’s tallest forest is like assembling an incredibly large jigsaw puzzle; the full picture emerges slowly, one piece at time. But occasionally, a critical piece falls into place…

How My Family Backpacking Dream Came True (And Yours Can, Too)

on

I can think of no wilder adventure than spending a week exploring the Yosemite backcountry with three teenage boys. With my oldest son heading into his final year of high school, I decided to go all out this summer in search of a truly epic, life-changing, never-to-forget experience that my sons and I could share.

Oracle Employees Take to the Forest

on

Since about 92% of the redwood forest is second and third growth, restoration will be a key strategy. Restoring young forest so that it can become old growth once again is essential for the future of conservation. Restoration at San Vicente Redwoods started recently with a volunteer day. Twelve volunteers from the Oracle Corporation spent the morning pulling invasive weeds amongst the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Peggy Light, League Board of Directors member, gathers redwood trunk measurements while on a staff and volunteer outing.

Peggy Light Keeps Tradition Alive

on

Peggy Light joined Save the Redwoods League as a donor, and now serves on the Board of Directors (she’s helping to double your gifts in the matching gift challenge!). Peggy is continuing the family tradition of League involvement that began with her grandfather Arthur Connick, who 97 years ago helped to found the League.

Learn more about this League leader

You helped protect Big River-Mendocino Old-Growth Redwoods, pictured in the upper left, near the town of Mendocino in the upper right. Photo by birchardphoto.com

Restore Pygmy and Redwood Forest

on

Thanks to more than 6,200 gifts from League members like you, Big River-Mendocino Old-Growth Redwoods is now protected from logging and development! Now we need your help to restore and open this magical place to the public.

See how you can make a difference

Your gifts are helping to decommission former logging roads and plant redwoods in Headwaters Forest Reserve. One day, the restored areas will resemble ancient redwood groves like this one at the reserve. Photo by Humboldt State University

Heal Headwaters Forest Reserve

on

Your generous donations are restoring habitat for wildlife and speeding development of tomorrow’s beautiful old-growth groves at Headwaters Forest, the reserve established in 1999 after a long and contentious dispute over the logging of its ancient coast redwood forest.

Kathy Bailey co-founded Hendy Woods Community, the group that helped keep the Hendy Woods State Park open when it faced closure because of a state budget crisis. Photo by Joan Hamilton

Kathy Bailey Champions Hendy Woods

on

When Hendy Woods State Park faced closure in 2011 because of California State Parks budget cuts, Kathy Bailey said she knew she had to get involved. So she co-founded Hendy Woods Community, which, with Save the Redwoods League, helped keep the park open for all to enjoy.

Sam Hodder, League President and CEO, explores the ancient redwoods at Big River-Mendocino Old-Growth Redwoods. Photo by Mike Shoys

You Protected Rare Pygmy-Redwood Forest

on

Less than 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean and the town of Mendocino, a two-track dirt road leads into a rare example of two forest types contained in one magnificent location: a pygmy forest and an ancient redwood forest that faces logging and development.

Peters Creek Old-Growth Forest is now protected from development, thanks to your gifts. Photo by Paolo Vescia

You Protected 2 Ancient Forests!

on

Thanks to donations from generous members like you, Save the Redwoods League met matching gift challenges and raised the funds needed by December 31, 2014, to protect the breathtaking Peters Creek Old-Growth Forest and Boulder Creek Forest

Valentine’s Day and the Redwoods

on

This Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, we want you to know that you make protecting and restoring redwood forests possible. You can share your love of the forest by sending your loved ones beautiful redwoods ecards. With these unique gifts, you will honor your valentines and help us safeguard these amazing places.

Volunteers Explore, Map Ancient Groves

on

Doug and Joanne Schwartz, dedicated League members and volunteers, last summer served as our Redwood Explorers-in-Residence, exploring the northern parks and verifying grove maps. Along the way, they told the stories of the many interesting plants and animals they found.

Photo by Paolo Vescia

Shady Dell: Creating a Trail in Paradise

on

Your generous gifts enabled Save the Redwoods League to purchase Shady Dell and plan its restoration. Now we’re working to open its wonders to you. But first Shady Dell needs work. Logging in the 1800s, 1950s and 1980s damaged this landscape. Before logging, this land embraced giant redwoods, clear streams and diverse, native plants and animals, including now-imperiled salmon, northern spotted owls and birds called marbled murrelets. These animals depend on ancient forest habitat. Our vision is to help restore the forest features they need.

Researchers Probe Drought Impacts on the Redwoods

on

Is California’s severe drought affecting the redwood forest? If so, to what extent? To find the answers to these questions, the League’s Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative (RCCI) scientists climbed high into the canopy.

Young students (like the one above with Sam Hodder, League President and CEO) joined the League and other organizations at last spring's BioBlitz to inventory plant and animal species in Muir Woods National Monument. Your gifts support such League projects to introduce new generations to the wonder of the redwoods, improving their health and well-being as they learn about the forest. Photo by Tonatiuh Trejo-Cantwell

Introducing the Nature-Deprived to the Forest

on

Your generous gifts make it possible for youths to experience the wonder of redwoods, enriching their lives and their health, and fostering the conservationists of tomorrow. Your new League Summer Bulletin shows how our new programs are helping to counter the trend of Americans’ detachment from nature.

Stephen Sillett and Marie Antoine climbing Muir Woods redwoods.

BioBlitz 2014: Muir Woods National Monument

on

In March 2014, a research team sponsored by Save the Redwoods League and the Evelyn Tilden Mohrhardt Fund at The San Francisco Foundation became the first scientists to climb the ancient trees at Muir Woods National Monument and survey life in the canopy. Learn more about this historic climb and its results.

You can protect and open Loma Mar Redwoods to the public. Photo by Paolo Vescia

Donate Today, Visit Your New Park Addition Within a Year

on

Sharing a border with San Mateo County’s Memorial Park and less than an hour from Silicon Valley‘s millions of people is a magical forest of big redwoods that’s practically ready for you to walk its wide, welcoming trails. The Loma Mar Redwoods forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains is a delight. You can protect and open this forest to the public. Learn more about Loma Mar Redwoods and our Emergency Projects Campaign.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offers recreation among a diverse landscape of beautiful forests, meadows and lush stream canyons. Photo by Jim Bahn, Flickr Creative Commons.

Trip Ideas, Father’s Day Ecards

on

You can take your dad to the redwoods on Father’s Day this Sunday, June 15. In honor of dads, Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton will host a special barbecue and steam train ride through the towering redwood forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is nearby for a post-ride hike.