SEQUOIA CONSERVATION FUND |
The Mighty Sequoia
The giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, is a large, long-lived, pioneer species found on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, growing in at least 75 scattered groves within mixed conifer forests. Mature giant sequoia trees, monarchs, can live to be thousands of years old, and until recently their primary cause of death was falling over. Today, however, giant sequoias face three major threats:
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“The recent tree deaths from the complex interactions between wildfire, drought, and beetles have really caught us off guard. We have been studying the possible climate change impacts on giant sequoia extensively for the past five years, and all modeling indicates that the majority of sequoia groves will be outside their climate envelope by 2060. However, we did not anticipate witnessing the deaths of mature giant sequoia so abruptly. Frankly, we are shocked and realize now more than ever that we must start working faster in order to protect these amazing trees. Each day that we wait, we lose valuable time to start imperative research that will help shape the future of the species. Public support could not come at a more critical time.” |
You can help preserve this magnificent species by donating to the Sequoia Conservation Fund. Ninety percent of your donation directly supports the cutting-edge research and science being done at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to better understand and protect giant sequoias into the future.
Resources on Giant Sequoias, Fire, and Drought
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Giant Sequoias and Fire
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Sequoia Drought Response: Leaf to Landscape Project
- Anthropogenic Climate Change in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California, USA
- Marmot Society
The Marmot Society is a nonprofit organization working to study and protect ancient trees and forests in a time of rapid environmental change. - United States Geological Survey (USGS)
The USGS studies the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it.
Recent Radio Interviews on Sequoia Conservation
Recent News Coverage
- October 7, 2021 Los Angeles Times: Hundreds of giant sequoias may have burned to death in KNP Complex, Windy fires
- October 2, 2021 Fresno Bee: KNP fire, Sequoia National Park recovery get celebrity support
- October 1, 2021 Washington Post: Firefighters are helping sequoias see 3,000 years
October 1, 2021 Fresno Bee: Celebrity speaks out for KNP Complex fire awareness as blaze scorches more that 51,000 acres - September 28, 2021 NPR: Scientists Are Racing To Save Sequoias : Short Wave
- September 28, 2021 CBS News: California wildfires destroy homes and threaten giant trees in Sequoia National Forest
- September 27, 2021 PBS Nova: How aluminum wrap protects sequoias from wildfire
- September 23, 2021 USA Today: How California's history of prescribed burns helped firefighters defend Sequoia National Park
- September 23, 2021 USA Today: General Sherman, Giant Forest survive KNP Complex Fire as blaze threatens other sequoia groves
- September 17, 2021 NPR: Giant Sequoias May Not Survive The Wrath Of Extreme Fires
- September 17, 2021 WABE: A Single Fire Killed Thousands Of Sequoias. Scientists Are Racing To Save The Rest
- September 15, 2021 ABC News: Fires shut Sequoia National Park, could threaten huge trees
- September 7, 2021 CNN: Majestic sequoia trees can live for thousands of years. Climate change could wipe them out
- September 7, 2021 USGS: A Whole New (Fiery) World
- June 16, 2021 SFist: Nearly All of California's Giant Sequoias Are In 'Exceptional Drought' Areas
- June 11, 2021 Smithsonian Magazine: Fire Destroyed 10 Percent of World's Giant Sequoias Last Year—Can They Survive Climate Change?
- June 6, 2021 Fresno Bee: Giant sequoias in Sierra killed by CA wildfire. What's next?
- June 5, 2021 Los Angeles Times: California wildfires have decimated the giant sequoia.
- June 4, 2021 Mashable: Thousands of giant sequoias were killed by an extreme wildfire
- June 3, 2021 The Guardian: ‘Mind-blowing’: tenth of world’s giant sequoias may have been destroyed by a single fire
- June 3, 2021 Los Angeles Times: California Castle fire killed 10% of world's giant sequoias
- June 3, 2021 San Francisco Chronicle: Super-hot California wildfire wiped out 10% of world's sequoia trees. Can they survive climate change?
- June 3, 2021 National Public Radio: A Single Fire Killed At Least 10% Of The World's Giant Sequoias, Study Says
- May 8, 2021 Washington Examiner: Massive sequoia still smoldering following 2020 California wildfire
- May 7, 2021 NBC News: A giant sequoia in California is still smoldering from last year's wildfires
- May 5, 2021 The Press Democrat: Giant tree in Sequoia National Park still smoldering from 2020 wildfire
- April 1, 2021 National Parks Traveller: Giant Sequoias Are Being Tested – Perhaps As Never Before
- January 6, 2021 National Geographic: California’s sequoias and redwoods can survive climate change—if we help them
- January 1, 2021 KQED: Giant Sequoias Face New Danger in Bark Beetles
- December 11, 2020 New York Times: Climate Change and California's Favorite Trees
- December 10, 2020 CapRadio: After Drought And Wildfires, California’s Giant Sequoias Face A New Enemy: Bark Beetle
- December 10, 2020 Seattle Times: The climate crisis is killing California’s most beloved redwoods, sequoias, Joshua trees
- December 9, 2020 New York Times: They’re Among the World’s Oldest Living Things. The Climate Crisis Is Killing Them.
- November 19, 2020 Los Angeles Times: Climate change is finally killing ancient Sequoia trees
- November 19 2020 Yahoo.com: Letters to the Editor: Climate change has finally come for ancient Sequoia trees. That's devastating
- April 21, 2020 Slate.com: Climate change: Giant sequoias are dying.
- January 22, 2020 Enews.net: NATIONAL PARKS: Federal study links climate change, giant sequoia deaths
Learn About the Many Ways to Fight Climate Change
- Make a Donation to Sequoia Parks Conservancy’s Sequoia Conservation Fund
Ninety percent of your donation directly supports the critical and crucial work being done at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to ensure that giant sequoias stay healthy and are given the opportunity to mature. - Help Us Monitor and Learn About Giant Sequoias
So much is changing rapidly in our environment that scientists can’t keep up. Many parks and other areas have community science projects that can help scientists collect data to track, understand, and respond to these changes. In Sequoia National Park, volunteers monitor sequoia growth over time to help park managers understand if trees are growing more slowly or dying more quickly as our environment changes. To see opportunities or to request an opportunity to volunteer with giant sequoias, please visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks volunteer webpage. - Do Whatever You Can to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
There are many things we can all do to slow and even reverse the trend in carbon emissions. All current data and modeling indicate climate change is detrimental to giant sequoias. Become educated on legislation that affects climate change and take personal action such as carpooling and recycling. Visit Project Drawdown or the Union of Concerned Scientists for more about how you can help counter climate change.
SUPPORTERS
Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (National Park Service) and Lake Kaweah (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), uses tax-deductible contributions to support these parks.
Sequoia Parks Conservancy is not currently processing gifts from Mississippi. |
Sequoia Parks Conservancy
47050 Generals Hwy Unit 10 Three Rivers, CA 93271 |