We are all in this together

Dear Save the Redwoods League friends,

Earlier this year, I journeyed to one of the most beautiful places on earth — Alder Creek Grove in the Sierra Nevada. I had visited this sequoia forest many times since Save the Redwoods League acquired the property in 2020. But this day was special: Our Indigenous partners, the Tule River, Tübatulabal, and North Fork Mono Tribes, had invited me and my colleagues to participate in a demonstration cultural burn — the first ever on League-managed land.

I had hiked up through the grove by myself that morning to see the light of a new day play upon the cinnamon bark of the ancient sequoias. When I returned to the base of the hill, I took my place in a circle of tribal leaders, partners, and friends. Chairman Robert Gomez of the Tübatulabal Tribe opened the ceremony, speaking of the many people coming together and expressing our shared wish for a good burn. As Chairman Gomez shared a traditional song and then lit the fire that would prepare the grove for regrowth and renewal, I was filled with a deep sense of community and alignment. It was clear that when it comes to protecting and healing what we love most, we are all in this together.

This issue of Redwoods follows these threads of collaboration and commitment as they weave through some of our most exciting and urgent projects. We take you to Sonoma Coast Redwoods, a dramatic stretch of California coastline whose preservation depends on a collective effort by the League, our partners, and our full community of supporters. We meet dedicated scientists working to unravel the complex relationship between redwoods and fog — and the growing impacts of climate change. And we explore how the League’s Redwood Rides program, working in partnership with local organizations, is helping to connect underrepresented communities with nature.

You can also read more about the Alder Creek cultural burn, which is captured in the photo above. This image of a strong circle — an interconnected grove that doesn’t rely upon any one tree — takes on added meaning as I announce that on March 31, 2025, I will be stepping away from my role as president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League.

This is a carefully considered decision to step down at a time when the League is incredibly well positioned for such a transition. It reflects my unshakable confidence in our team — the dedicated professionals who bring such passion and grit to this work— and the knowledge that the organization is poised to make a significant positive impact for decades to come. We have tremendous public support for our eminently achievable conservation vision. We have an ecosystem of partners who share our belief in bold innovation and inclusivity. Our financial position has never been stronger, our board and council are fully invested in our future, and our reputation as committed and collaborative leaders has positioned us for ever greater success.

Of course, I am deeply proud of everything the League community has accomplished over the past decade. Together, we have protected more than 34,000 acres of redwood forest and set in motion our landscape-scale conservation plan — one of the key goals I set out to achieve. We have partnered with state and federal agencies to launch Redwoods Rising, one of the largest landscape restoration projects in the country. We have built a core mission pillar focused on advancing equitable access to the redwoods. We have played a leadership role in passing Prop 4, the biggest natural resources conservation bond in U.S. history. And so much more.

It is impossible for me to fully convey my gratitude for these past 11 years. I can imagine nothing more rewarding than working with this dedicated community of redwoods champions: the League’s outstanding staff, our thousands of loyal members and generous volunteers, our circle of deeply engaged partners. It has been the experience of a lifetime to save redwoods with this league of incredible people.

All that said, I still have several months to lead the organization — and the rest of my life to actively support the League’s crucial work. This is hardly farewell!

For now, I’ll leave you with a memory from the day before I started my job as CEO. I had gone to Big Basin for a solo hike, wanting to immerse myself in the redwoods before facing the daunting responsibility of upholding a 95-year legacy of conservation leadership. At some point, I broke into a run, willing the movement to fill me with confidence and energy.

Just when I thought I couldn’t be any deeper into the forest, I heard voices. A group of elementary students with oversized backpacks lined the trail ahead. Almost as one, they turned to stare at the random sweaty runner who had appeared out of nowhere. As I jogged awkwardly past, one girl put her hand up for a high five. Then the next student, and the next. Each put up a hand to cheer me on. There in the heart of the redwoods, my apprehension melted, replaced by joy.

That experience has served as a reminder of why we do this work. For the spectacular forests and the amazing wildlife — absolutely — but also for the people. The redwoods bring magic and beauty to the world; they create a space in which openhearted humans will extend a hand and encourage a stranger in the woods.

To each and every one of you, a joyous high five.

Sam Hodder
President and CEO
Save the Redwoods League