Video: League forest expert talks about redwoods and fire
onLeague Director of Science Kristen Shive, PhD, gave a talk about California’s unprecedented fire season in 2020 and its effects on our iconic coast redwood and giant sequoia forests.
Cascade Creek: The future resilience of a fire-impacted landscape is secured
onSave the Redwoods League has safeguarded the long-term health of a keystone forest with the December 2020 purchase of the Cascade Creek property, home to old-growth and mature second-growth redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The acquisition creates continuous habitat from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean within the ancestral territory of the Quiroste Tribe.
Fire Recovery at the Core of New Parks Effort
onThe fire at Big Basin Redwoods State Park made headlines around the world, but it was far from the only redwood park to burn. Sadly, each of the parks forced to close by fire had only recently been reopened following the state’s COVID-19 stay-home order.
How Will Redwoods Fare Under Wildfires in a Changing Climate?
onIn the giant sequoia range, roughly 16,000 acres (or 34 percent of the range) had burned, most of which is old growth. We have yet to assess the fire effects on the ground, but as with most modern wildfires, there will likely be a mix of beneficial and detrimental ecological effects.
The data behind what we know about giant sequoia and fire
onData show that the relationship between giant sequoia and fire is changing
After the fire: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
onIt’s been about three months since fire swept through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and we thought we’d check in on this remarkable coast redwood forest. As we’ve discussed, most of the redwoods will be OK. In the video, you can see the famed Mother of the Forest Tree, charred but still living and surviving. In all, fascinating to see a resilient forest evolve.
Update on 2020 wildfire in the giant sequoia range
onSQF Complex Fire in the giant sequoia
Wildfire policy is forest policy is climate policy
onredwoods are an important part of climate change policy
Update from Alder Creek
onWe finally had a chance to survey fire impacts at Alder Creek
Save the Redwoods League and Mendocino Land Trust Reopen the Peter Douglas Trail to the Shady Dell Candelabra Redwood Trees
onSave the Redwoods League and Mendocino Land Trust today announced the reopening of the Peter Douglas Trail through the Shady Dell candelabra redwood trees in Mendocino County. This reopening follows more than a year of restoration and repair efforts to Usal Road and the Peter Douglas Trail that were damaged in the 2019 Usal Fire.
Field Notes From a Sequoia Forest Fellow
onThe League’s giant sequoia forest fellow shares her story about how she came to work in giant sequoia conservation, and what needs to be done to protect the forest and restore its fire resilience.
Post-Fire Alder Creek Update
onFollowing the SQF Complex Fire, the fire impacts on the giant sequoia of the Alder Creek property appear to be beneficial.
Donors rally to jumpstart recovery of beloved Big Basin Redwoods State Park
onNews that wildfire had destroyed most of the buildings and facilities at Big Basin Redwoods State Park created an outpouring of generosity over the past two weeks from donors looking to speed up the iconic park’s comeback.
Fire at Big Basin Redwoods State Park derails nature museum project
onFire destroyed the Big Basin Redwoods State Park Nature Museum. Work on the project was well underway in the original building when the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire came through the headquarters on Aug. 18, destroying everything.
Sequoia Complex Fire nearing giant sequoia grove
onFire nearing giant sequoia: We’re continuing to closely monitor the Sequoia Complex Fire in the Sequoia National Forest. As of right now, it appears the fire has started to move west, and is now about a mile away from the Freeman Creek giant sequoia grove.
Out of destruction, hope
onSince the League joined with Sempervirens Fund last week to create the Big Basin Recovery Fund, so many generous people have stepped forward to help. Pachama offered a $5,000 match to the Big Basin Recovery Fund to inspire others to take an active role in rebuilding this wondrous park and the forest around it. Together, we’ve raised more than $100,000 to fund the park’s immediate needs, as well as help lay the groundwork for its reconstruction.
Keeping an eye on fire burning near Sierra giant sequoia
onWith attention on the coast redwoods, we’re also keeping our eye on fire near giant sequoia. Unlike their coast redwood cousins, giant sequoia lack the ability to sprout after fire, so a severe wildfire can outright kill these ancient trees.
Interactive map allows you to track fire proximity to redwood forests
onOf more than a million acres burned, wildfires have burned approximately 72,000 acres of coast redwood forest during the August Lightning Siege of 2020. Roughly 9,000 acres of this has been in old-growth redwoods.
Cautious optimism for coast redwoods amid fires
onCoast redwoods are naturally adapted to resist fire damage. It’s going to be a while before it’s safe for us to visit these forests and assess the fire effects, and it will be longer still before we fully understand the short- and long-term impacts on the trees. In the meantime, we will maintain that cautious optimism, knowing that the ancient giants have survived for centuries and lived through many wildfires.
We’re remaining hopeful as fires move into redwood groves
onWe have learned that fire has swept into some of California’s coast redwood parks and forests in Sonoma and Santa Cruz Counties.