Sonoma Coast Redwoods

Help protect an iconic redwood landscape along California’s rugged coast

Standing on the Sonoma Coast Redwoods property, your eyes are immediately drawn to the infinite horizon. Panoramic views take in historic Fort Ross to the north and Jenner, Bodega Bay, and Point Reyes to the south—a sinuous coastline fronted by a shimmering expanse of Pacific Ocean. As you gaze out at the waves, the sounds of the Northern California coast soon emerge: the distant barking of sea lions, the screech of a red-tailed hawk, the hum of wind across golden prairie, the hushed rustle of towering redwood trees.

There are certainly those who would love to build homes and private estates up here, just two hours from San Francisco, near secluded beaches, the Russian River, and Sonoma’s wine country. But Save the Redwoods League and our partners have other plans. Together, we intend to acquire, restore, and permanently protect this 1,624-acre property—one of a treasured few of its kind—for the benefit of all.

Right now, we have a window of opportunity. Collectively, we can preserve the property’s cultural value as the ancestral home of the Kashia people. We can reconnect wildlife habitat and build resilience to mega-fires and climate change. And we can secure an extraordinary redwood landscape for the enjoyment of future visitors and the health and well-being of the 2 million people who live near this spectacular place.

Save the Redwoods League is pursuing philanthropic gifts, grants, and other funding sources toward the total acquisition and stewardship cost of $16 million. With $7 million secured to date, we seek to raise the remaining $9 million by December 31.
We invite you to make a tax-deductible contribution to support this exciting project.

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What’s at stake

1,624 acres, roughly twice the size of Central Park
836 acres of coast redwood forest, including some of California’s oldest second-growth trees and scattered old growth up to 1,000 years in age
Stands of young redwoods that will store large amounts of planet-warming carbon as they grow
Biodiverse habitat for native plant and animal species, including Northern spotted owl, Sonoma tree vole, and Sonoma spineflower
Ancestral territory of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, who own and steward the nearby Kashia Coastal Reserve
Greater fire resilience and a buffer for the redwood forest at adjacent Fort Ross State Historic Park
Expanded opportunities for public recreation, including a potential extension of the California Coastal Trail

Reconnecting Sonoma’s redwood corridor

fog and redwoods — Fog rolls in across the Sonoma Coast Redwoods property, more than half of which is covered by a healthy coast redwood forest. Photo by M3 Creative.

Young green new growth is sprouting from blackened tree trunks in an ancient forest bouncing back from wildfire. — Though portions of the property were impacted by the 2020 Meyers Fire, the redwoods are already bouncing back, thanks to a history of sustainable forestry and a post-fire recovery program by the current owner, Soper Company, in consultation with the League. Now is the moment to ensure fire resilience into the future. Photo by Max Forster.

For millennia, coast redwoods defined the Sonoma landscape. Fog-shrouded forests blanketed the coastal bluffs, while some of the tallest trees on the planet flourished in the rich soil of the Russian River floodplain. Many of these giants were lost in the California timber rush and ensuing harvests. But stunning pockets of old growth remain, along with resilient second-growth forests eager to reach the sky once more.

Acre by acre, Save the Redwoods League and our partners are resurrecting these legendary redwoods. Already we have permanently protected nearly 20 square miles in Sonoma County, including the addition of 2,157 acres to Fort Ross State Historic Park—an expansion that nearly tripled the park’s size—and helping to acquire 5,630 acres to create Jenner Headlands Preserve.

Sonoma Coast Redwoods represents a key puzzle piece in this effort to secure the region’s redwood footprint. The property contains 836 acres of coast redwood forest, much of which has been in timber production for more than a century. As a result, the second-growth trees here are of varying ages, including scattered old-growth giants potentially as old as 1,000 years. This variety indicates a healthy recovering forest—the kind where young trees can grow quickly and pack away large amounts of carbon when the planet needs it most.

Safeguarding these resilient redwoods will set them on a trajectory toward becoming big, old-growth trees that support the highest biodiversity and sequester the most carbon. Protecting this sizeable parcel aligns with the League’s centennial vision to double the amount of coast redwood forests in parks and reserves to 800,000 acres. It will also advance California’s 30×30 plan to protect 30% of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030 to help fight climate change and support biodiversity.

Expanding habitat for wildlife to flourish

Red-tailed hawk spreading its wings, soaring in the blue sky — Sonoma Coast Redwoods provides habitat for native wildlife such as this red-tailed hawk. Other raptors such as golden eagles and bald eagles are a common sight, while Northern spotted owls have been seen nearby. Photo by Max Forster.

close up of the rare Sonoma spineflower, with clusters of tiny, dusty-pink blossoms — Once thought to be extinct, the rare Sonoma spineflower grows on the property. California’s coastal prairies are some of the most biodiverse—and most threatened—grasslands in North America. Alamy Stock Photo by piemags/nature.

Within this landscape, a vibrant coast redwood forest meets sweeping ridgetop meadows where butterflies flit between flowers and deer wander in the grass. Safeguarding this stunning haven for native plants and animals, many of them rare or endangered, is a priority. The acquisition would connect more than 7.8 square miles of wildlife habitat and nearly 8 miles of streams, including a redwood-lined stretch of Fort Ross Creek where steelhead return from the ocean to spawn.

Raptors such as golden eagles, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks are regularly seen riding the thermals above the property’s steep bluffs. There is also abundant owl habitat, with three Northern spotted owl activity centers within less than a mile of the property. Several other wildlife species of special concern dwell on the property, including California giant salamander, foothill yellow-legged frog, and Sonoma tree vole.

In spring, wildflowers blanket the property’s green meadows, home to colorful marsh pea, woolly-headed gilia, and rare Sonoma spineflower, a species once thought to be extinct. California’s coastal prairies are some of the most biodiverse grasslands in North America—and one of the most threatened due to development, invasive species, and fire exclusion. The grasslands at Sonoma Coast Redwoods, which have long been used for livestock grazing, possess enormous potential for restoration.

Protecting a vital past and bright future

A ridgeline view overlooks a blue ocean, golden grasslands, and redwood trees, with the historic wooden structures of Fort Ross in the background. — Panoramic views extend across the famed Highway 1 to adjacent Fort Ross State Historic Park. The acquisition of Sonoma Coast Redwoods would create an exciting opportunity to expand the California Coastal Trail through breathtaking scenery. Photo by Max Forster.

In addition to its ecological richness, Sonoma Coast Redwoods possesses a historical and cultural significance that’s essential to protect. The property lies within the ancestral territory of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, who own and steward the nearby Kashia Coastal Reserve and maintain deep cultural ties to these lands.

The present-day Kashia reservation, Stewarts Point Rancheria, represents only a small portion of the tribe’s ancestral territory, which extends from the Pacific Ocean north to the Gualala River, inland to the confluence of Warm Spring Creek and Dry Creek, and south beyond the Russian River to Duncan’s Point. The Kashia people have stewarded this land for millennia; and prior to European contact, an estimated 1,500 people inhabited this territory.

Photograph of a Russian Orthodox church, with a wooden fence and green forested hills in the background. — The proximity of Fort Ross, with its weathered redwood structures, historic cemetery, and coastal trails, creates a unique opportunity to expand recreational access along the California coast. Photo by Zug Zwang / Flickr CC.

Russian emissaries reached the Sonoma Coast in the early 1800s, looking to expand the fur trade and provision their settlements in Alaska. In 1812, the Russian-American Company established Fort Ross and began farming portions of what is now the Sonoma Coast Redwoods property, employing the Kashia for labor. At that time, this was the site of the first non-Indigenous commercial logging of redwoods in California.

By 1841, the Russians had concluded their California experiment, leaving behind a historic orchard, a cemetery, and the landmark redwood structures that make Fort Ross State Historic Park a popular visitor destination today.

With Fort Ross immediately north of Sonoma Coast Redwoods, protection of the property would help buffer the state park’s redwood forest and create the potential to extend the California Coastal Trail through breathtaking scenery. This would be a truly unique opportunity to expand equitable public access along the Sonoma coast and connect more people with inspiring outdoor experiences that benefit their health and well-being.

Next steps toward permanent protection

A woman stands in a redwood forest in Sonoma County, California, surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery. — Georgia Young, League director of development, stands amid coast redwood trees at Sonoma Coast Redwoods. By preventing further commercial harvest and restoring this maturing forest, we can lock in crucial climate benefits for the long term. Photo by Max Forster.

While the vision for Sonoma Coast Redwoods is clear and bright, the future of this iconic stretch of California coast is yet to be determined.

Our immediate goal is to raise the necessary funds to secure the redwood forest footprint against the threat of development, timber harvest, and wildfire. If the League succeeds in acquiring Sonoma Coast Redwoods with the help of our supporters, we intend to transfer this land to public ownership, in line with our goal of increasing the number of stunning redwood destinations that are accessible to all.

We are currently engaging with prospective tribal, parks, and funding partners to determine a permanent steward and ensure that the property’s extraordinary cultural, conservation, and climate resources are forever preserved. This is a collective opportunity—a chance to be good ancestors and ensure that the beauty and benefits of this magnificent landscape stretch far into the future.

A drone shot of the coastal hills, with forested areas and grassland on one side, overlooking the blue ocean in the background. — Sonoma Coast Redwoods lies along a serene stretch of California coast, where lush redwoods and sweeping ocean views create a constant risk of development. Photo by M3 Creative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns the property?

The land is owned by Soper Company, which has utilized the property for timber production and leased it for cattle grazing in the past. Soper Company was one of the first California timber companies to practice sustainable forestry through ecological stewardship, and it led the timber industry in science-based innovation and land management practices that foster sustainable forests and healthy wildlife habitat.

What are the threats to this property?

Sonoma Coast Redwoods is threatened by private estate development, due to its prime location, extensive road frontage, water and infrastructure, scenic coastal views, and proximity to Sonoma wine country, Russian River, and greater San Francisco Bay Area. There are four separate legal lots on the property.

What are the benefits of protecting this property?

Acquisition of the property would permanently protect an iconic California landscape along one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world. It would allow for the protection and restoration of a sizeable redwood forest, create a contiguous wildlife corridor, and prevent harmful development in sensitive habitat to protect biodiversity. Additionally, it would provide a buffer for the redwood forests at Fort Ross State Historic Park—home to California’s oldest known second-growth redwood groves—and create an opportunity for expanded public and cultural access along the Sonoma coast.

The acquisition would also secure the forest’s carbon capacity. Young redwoods can grow very quickly, and some trees can reach 200 feet or more in less than a century. The property’s maturing redwoods are well on their way to becoming old growth redwoods that store the most carbon and support the highest biodiversity. By preventing further commercial harvest and restoring these young forests, we can help ensure Californians benefit from their carbon storage immediately and long term.

The project aligns with California’s 30×30 plan to protect 30% of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030 to help fight climate change and protect biodiversity.

How much old growth is left on the property?

The property contains predominantly second-growth coast redwood forest with most trees ranging in age from 80 to 100 years, and some old-growth trees potentially as old as 1,000 years. This profile indicates a healthy recovering forest.

Having led in the protection of most of California’s remaining old-growth redwood forests, the League’s vision for the next 100 years focuses on three high-level objectives: protecting young, recovering forests like Sonoma Coast Redwoods as essential links in a contiguous, healthy redwood landscape; restoring the natural resilience and stature of the redwood forests; and connecting people with redwood parks that bolster community well-being and recreational tourism for local economies.

What is the condition of the forest in Sonoma Coast Redwoods?

While the Sonoma Coast Redwoods property partially burned during the Meyers Fire in August 2020, it is still in good condition. A portion of the northern area burned at low severity, which benefitted forest health. However, 300 to 500 acres burned at moderate-to-high severity; in the areas of high severity, some of the redwoods were killed. Others immediately began resprouting.

In December 2020, the current landowner, Soper Company, conducted a salvage operation in consultation with the League, significantly improving post-fire outcomes. No timber was removed from the northern, low-severity burn areas or in those areas not affected by the fire. Soper Company has continued to manage the forest to promote strong recovery, including planting 105,000 redwood trees.

Will the League conduct restoration in the forest?

The League will continue the work to restore and steward the property during our ownership and will likely collaborate with the ultimate conservation owner to care for the land over the next decade. Our goals are to secure the forest’s climate and fire resilience and keep its redwoods on the path to growing old.

What are the League’s long-term plans for the property?

In alignment with the League’s mission to protect and restore redwood forests and connect all people with their peace and beauty, we hope to work with public funders, park agencies, and tribal partners to convey the property to a permanent conservation owner and ensure the appropriate stewardship of all of the property’s conservation values. We are in the early stages of engaging those partners, developing a conservation plan, securing full funding for the acquisition, and determining a permanent owner and land manager. We do not have an established timeline yet.

Has the League engaged with tribes on this project?

The League recognizes and respects that this land is within the ancestral territory of the Kashia people. We have had preliminary conversations with representatives from the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of Stewarts Point Rancheria regarding the stewardship and protection of this land. We will continue these conversations and hope to deepen our existing partnership with the Kashia.

Newsroom

PRESS RELEASE

September 12, 2024 — Save the Redwoods League Secures Opportunity to Protect and Restore 1,600+ Acres of Redwood Forest and Coastal Prairies from Threat of Development along Sonoma Coast

For media inquiries, contact Robin Carr at (415) 766-0927 or [email protected].
To access hi-res images, b-roll or drone footage of the Sonoma Coast Redwoods, please visit our media resources.

NEWS COVERAGE

Press Democrat: Save The Redwoods League seeks to buy, restore 1,624-acre Sonoma Coast timber property abutting Fort Ross State Historic Park
September 2024
The Mercury News: Three miles of scenic Northern California coastline preserved in major redwoods deal
September 2024
SF Chronicle: California Coastal Trail could get extension through Sonoma preservation deal
September 2024

Ways to get involved

Save the Redwoods League is pursuing philanthropic gifts toward our goal of raising the remaining $9 million by December 31, 2024. The League invites you to give today to help permanently protect and restore Sonoma Coast Redwoods and connect people with this spectacular place.

Donate TodayConsider a gift to support the Sonoma Coast Redwoods

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Tags: 2024, current, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, land acquisition, land deals, Land Project, Protect, Sonoma Coast Redwoods, Sonoma County