research

New Report Shows Significant Socioeconomic Benefits of Large-scale Restoration Projects in Redwood National and State Parks Region

by Save the Redwoods League on

A new report, Assessing the Restoration Economy within Redwood National and State Parks, highlights the economic opportunities created by large-scale restoration efforts in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. As the region moves beyond its history of industrial-scale logging, programs like Redwoods Rising and ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway are driving economic growth through environmental restoration. Led by Save the Redwoods League and California State Parks, these initiatives are bringing revenue, quality jobs, and lasting conservation benefits to Northern California’s redwood country—helping to revitalize an economically disadvantaged area while restoring one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems.

A closeup of the front half of a mottled brown salamander

Protecting a sensitive salamander

by Juliet Grable on

Near the jade waters of the Smith River in Redwood National and State Parks is the habitat of a small amphibian species that may depend on redwood forests as its environment changes. The southern torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus) seeks clear, …

Research from Save the Redwoods League and Humboldt State University Confirms Significant Role of Redwood Forests in California’s Climate Fight

by Save the Redwoods League on

Policymakers in California and all over the world are exploring the potential of natural solutions to the climate change crisis, particularly the role forests play in storing carbon in their wood as they grow. Recent findings bolster research confirming massive carbon storage in old-growth redwood forests and potential of younger, previously logged forests.

Allyson Carroll: Decoding History Hidden in Redwoods

by Save the Redwoods League on

Dendrochronologist Allyson Carroll has decoded centuries of history hidden in giant sequoias and coast redwoods, thanks to the League’s research grants program and our members’ support.

Debbie Woollett: Putting a Dog’s Nose to Work for the Forest

by Save the Redwoods League on

One of biologist Debbie Woollett’s star colleagues has four legs. Wicket is a Labrador mix for Working Dogs for Conservation, an organization that Woollett co-founded to apply dogs’ abilities to conservation projects. Wicket can recognize the scents of 26 species and has “alerted” on moon bears in China, elephants in Southeast Asia, invasive snails in Hawaii, and grizzly bears and black bears in North America.

What We’re Learning from the Redwoods

by Emily Burns on

When we take a close look at what makes redwoods survive and thrive, the trees have remarkable stories to tell. That’s what researchers discovered thanks to three studies supported by research grants from Save the Redwoods League over the past …

Sniffing for Science

by Emily Burns on

Scientists certainly come in all shapes and sizes, but did you know sometimes they have four paws?! Recently, the League partnered with Tim Beam (Humboldt State University), Scott Osborn (California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), and Working Dogs for Conservation …

When We Can’t See the Trees for the Forest

by Joanne and Doug Schwartz on

Guest bloggers Doug and Joanne Schwartz – League members and dedicated volunteers – are serving this summer as our Redwood Explorers-in-Residence, exploring the northern parks, and ground-truthing and mapping the groves of ancient forest they find. Along the way, they’re documenting the many …

Here at the League, we love learning about the forest! Photo of RCCI researcher collecting data, by Steve Sillett.

Top 5 Fascinating Redwoods Facts

by Sam Hodder on

It’s National Environmental Education Week! This week is a celebration of environmental education and a special time to inspire learning and stewardship among students. I can’t say enough about how important outdoor education is to complete the circle of land …

What Do the Winter Olympics and Redwoods Have in Common?

by Sam Hodder on

Well, they’re both part of a rapidly-changing world. It’s more than a little scary to watch the Winter Olympics this year and see the bare, snowless mountains in the background and the spectators in T-shirts lining the race courses. Scarier …

A Summer of Ferns

by Emily Burns on

The best part of the year for any field ecologist like myself, is the stretch of long summer days spent outside collecting data. Over the past two months, I journeyed into the coast redwood forest to take measurements in our …

Ferns in the Redwood Canopy

by Emily Burns on

In last week’s blog, I described my climb into a large double redwood to help Steve Sillett and his team make measurements for our Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative. While up in this tree, I was suspended alongside enormous fern …

Researcher Wendy Baxter climbs a fixed rope up into a 86.6m-tall giant sequoia tree at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Photo by Anthony Ambrose

Barking up the Right Tree

by Emily Burns on

It’s summertime and redwood researchers are putting on their climbing gear and ascending  into the leafy crowns of giant sequoias. A slow climb is worth the effort to see how the giants are growing. But why climb hundreds of feet …