Fire Season
onAlong with spring, summer, autumn and winter, California has a fifth season – fire season. After a couple of dry winters, the current fire season in California is predicted to be one of the most intense on record. Habitats from …
The Toughest Plants in the World
onIt’s not often that I hear about a creature more resilient than redwoods. After all, they grow faster, live longer, and reproduce more prolifically than just about any other tree. Be that as it may, some very small, unassuming creatures …
The Last Redwood of the East Bay
onHigh above the sprawling city, the heat from rooftops and roads casts a shimmering haze mirrored by the ocean beyond. Here, rising above the oak and bay forest, its trunk twisted and scarred by centuries of wind and fire, it …
Sustainability or Resilience?
onDo you feel tension? No, not emotional tension, the intellectual kind. Does intellectual tension invigorate you? It invigorates us at Save the Redwoods League. There is a debate among conservationists: should our goal be sustainability or resilience? At Save the …
What Happens to the Land Once We’ve Bought It? Stewardship Happens!
onWe all get really excited when we close a big project—like when we acquired the beautiful 145-acre property with pristine redwoods next to Portola Redwoods State Park a few months ago, or when we received a conservation easement on 90 …
Three Northern Forests Paint a Picture of Hope
onI don’t get out to the woods for work nearly enough these days (then again, who does?), but last week was an exception. During a trip to the Northern California forests for some meetings, I was lucky enough to get …
Redwoods and the Passage of Time
onTime. Einstein said, “Time is an illusion.” We all feel that it goes by too fast. Dr. Seuss said, “How did it get so late so soon?” To make a difference, we have to focus on now. As Mother Teresa said, …
Another Side of Cemex
onThis week I explored Cemex Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains with my colleagues. I’d been there many times, but this time felt different because I walked into corners of the expansive property that I hadn’t seen before. During my …
The Tasks Ahead
on“To some it might appear that, having accomplished what will be considered one of the greatest pieces of conservation work in America, the Redwoods League might not have a place of as great importance in the future as that occupied …
The Fight to Save the Redwoods: Then and Now
onSince 1918, Save the Redwoods League has been fighting to fund redwoods protection all the while the funding for land conservation in California has continued to change. More recently, between 2002 and 2006, the voters of California approved bond measures to …
Life on the Forest’s Edge
onIt takes a long time to get to Hendy Woods State Park from San Francisco. It takes a while to get there from pretty much anywhere, but it’s worth it. Approaching the park through the Anderson Valley wine country, the …
Large Old Trees at Risk
onOpen up the 2012/12 issue of National Geographic to see photos of an incredible giant sequoia and the phenomenal diversity of plants and animals that live with this redwood in the forest. On the backside of the fold-out photograph of …
The Future of the Forest: Why Saving Land is Just the Beginning
onHiking in the Wasatch (Mountain) Range east of Salt Lake City, the Aspens are golden and shimmering, doing their quaking thing in the autumn sun. I am with land conservation colleagues, taking an afternoon off from the seminars at the …
Drilling for Park Land
onWhat do offshore oil drilling and Zion National Park have in common with the redwoods? On first pass, not much – but as a recent story on CBS news shows, they are linked through a nearly 50-year-old program called the …
Calling on the Wisdom of a Redwood Tree
onThe bark on our redwood tree was especially soft this morning. The ground was squishy beneath my feet. It was drippy as I stood underneath the tree in the morning fog, and newly fallen redwood leaves littered the ground. I …
Redwoods Witness Shuttle Flight for First Time in 166 Million Years
onIs it a bird? Is it a plane? No – it’s the space shuttle Endeavour flying low over the redwoods as it catches a ride south to Los Angeles! That was the sight that greeted me on Friday afternoon as …
League applies for Land Trust Alliance accreditation
onToday’s quiz: A. What is Anthony, League Conservation Programs Assistant, carrying? B. How many redwoods were cut down to generate that amount of paper? C. Why does Anthony have that look on his face? Answers: A. Those binders contain the …
The Marathon to Reform State Parks
onI’ve enjoyed watching the Olympics these past three weeks—and not just because it’s hosted in London with a British squad that has surpassed all expectations. It’s just plain fun to get into obscure sports and watch people at the top …
Learning from Our Predecessors’ Vision
onLast week I hiked the French Trail in Redwood Regional Park to take in the quiet of early morning in our neighboring redwood forest. Every time, I appreciate the wisdom, foresight and tenacity of those who preserved these redwoods and …
Building upon a Legacy of Success
on“I appeal to you to save these mighty trees, these wonderful monuments of beauty.” —Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States of America As staff at Save the Redwoods League, it is both humbling and inspiring to have …