stewardship

The Future of Redwood Conservation

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Much has been said about the importance of old-growth redwood forests. Their superlative beauty, their mind-bending longevity, their capacity to sequester carbon, and their ability to inspire peace, awe, and contemplation are all reasons why our commitment to their protection …

Conservation easements can permanently protect privately-owned properties like this one. Photo by Paolo Vescia.

What IS a Conservation Easement, Anyway?

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Conservation easements are an incredibly important tool we use to help protect land. They can be confusing to understand, so my next few blogs will focus on different aspects of conservation easements to explain the concept and show why land …

One Way to Manage and Protect a Forest: Burn It

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Lately we have been thinking a lot about fire. It is fire season in California and sadly huge fires in the west are making headlines with their destructive activity. So, we’ve been discussing ways to decrease these devastating forest fires. …

View at Stewarts Point Ranch.

Listen to an Oral History of Stewarts Point

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Stewarts Point Ranch, a property we own and protect in northern Sonoma County, has a long and interesting history. The Richardson family settled at Stewarts Point in the 1860’s. Recently, a wonderful oral history project called “The Story Shed” interviewed …

Eel River at Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area.

I Support Team Standish

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Standing on the bank of the Eel River, surrounded by local volunteers describing the park as the ‘lifeblood of the community,’ it’s hard to believe that Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area almost didn’t make it.  Despite its well-developed trail and campground …

Technology can be a useful tool in protecting our forests.

Nature + Technology = Fact Finding and Fun!

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As our Stewardship Manager, I enjoy regular visits to our magnificent properties for a variety of reasons—checking that roads are clear for an upcoming tour, overseeing the demolition of a structure, investigating any issues with trespassers, checking for invasive species, …

Working hard, assessing areas where old, fallen trees need to be removed. Not a bad day "at the office"!

What Happens to the Land Once We’ve Bought It? Stewardship Happens!

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We 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 …

Peters Creek Old-Growth Forest. Photo by Paolo Vescia

4 Ways to See the Redwood Forest Anew

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This weekend, I visited a corner of paradise in Portola Redwoods State Park.  This park is the home of some of the tallest, most majestic redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Now is the perfect time to see a veil …

Hiking in the Wasatch Range east of Salt Lake City.

The Future of the Forest: Why Saving Land is Just the Beginning

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Hiking 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 …