Alder Creek, the largest remaining privately owned giant sequoia property in the world, was “bought” by century-old conservation group Save the Redwoods League…
to safeguard the trees as a national treasure — but now the funds need to be raised.
Bay Area conservation group Save the Redwoods League last month signed a deal to purchase the world’s largest privately owned giant sequoia forest, a primeval landscape in California’s Southern Sierra Nevada with massive trees that soar 250ft/76.2m tall, span up to 80ft/24.4m around at their trunks and live for more than 2,000 years.
The 530-acre (214 hectares) property, known as the Alder Creek, is located in Tulare County 10 miles south of Sequoia National Park, it is home to 483 massive trees that are larger than six feet in diameter — four more trees than the famed Mariposa Grove at Yosemite National Park.
Giant sequoia on Alder Creek “Alder Creek is the most consequential giant sequoia conservation project of our lifetime. It’s the largest remaining giant sequoia property in private ownership, and a globally unique and extraordinarily beautiful landscape,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
The Stagg Tree, the fifth largest known tree in the world, is thought to be thousands of years old The 530-acre Alder Creek property contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoia, 483 of which have a diameter of six feet or larger, including the Stagg Tree, the fifth-largest tree known in the world. Alder Creek is 200 miles from Los Angeles and is surrounded by Giant Sequoia National Monument. Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Giant sequoia forests are one of the rarest ecosystems on the planet, encompassing 48,000 acres. Because giant sequoia occupy a small native range, it is vital to seize every opportunity to protect them. In addition to giant sequoia, Alder Creek also contains robust stands of mature red fir, white fir, ponderosa pine, and sugar pine, as well as several other habitats, including meadows, wetlands, and riparian woodlands. Each sustains its unique suite of associated species; together, they form a vital and resilient ecosystem emblematic of the southern Sierra Nevada and California. Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Public Access to one of the most beautiful places in California Following the acquisition of the property, the League intends to work with Giant Sequoia National Monument and the local and regional community to plan and implement long-term public access to the property that both inspires visitors with the beauty and power of nature and ensures the health and resilience of this rare forest ecosystem. Source: VictoriaReader/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Restoration and Minimising the Risk of Destructive Wildfire: In addition to acquiring the property, the League will develop plans for restoration and stewardship activities during its ownership. Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Ongoing Protection and Future Stewardship The League intends to own and manage the property for five to 10 years. During this time, the League will develop and implement forest restoration and stewardship activities and develop public access plans. Ultimately, the League intends to transfer the property to the US Forest Service for inclusion in Giant Sequoia National Monument, ensuring its future management in accordance with the monument’s long-term restoration, resource protection, and public access program. Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
“This is perhaps the most significant sequoia conservation opportunity in the last 65 years,” said Becky Bremser, the director of land protection for Save the Redwoods League. “By protecting this property, we will safeguard the biological richness and ecological resilience of a forest unlike any other on Earth — with giant sequoia trees that are thousands of years old, and nearly 500 with diameters six feet or larger. We also will create the opportunity for this extraordinary mountain forest to inspire the public in a truly special way.” Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Fulfilling A Vision for the Future Protection of Alder Creek is among the key goals in the League’s Centennial Vision for Redwoods Conservation, released last year. The Vision describes plans to address the findings of the League’s first-ever State of the Redwoods Conservation Report, which details today’s most pressing challenges for giant sequoia and coast redwood forests. Source: VictoriaReader/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
CHALLENGE GRANT MUST BE MATCHED BY DECEMBER 31, 2019
The acquisition cost of the Alder Creek property is $15.65 million, which must be raised by December 31, 2019.
To launch this public fundraising effort and inspire support, an anonymous donor has offered a challenge match, generously agreeing to match dollar-for-dollar all gifts received by December 31 up to $500,000.
The public can donate to support the protection and restoration of Alder Creek at SaveTheRedwoods.org/SaveAlder.
The vast majority of remaining giant sequoia groves are held in public or tribal ownership, with only 1,200 acres privately owned today. The long-term climate change trend of Sierra Nevada snowpack reduction, in combination with warmer temperatures and widespread pine, fir, and cedar tree mortality from drought and pests, is greatly increasing the risk of severe fire and threatening the giant sequoia ecosystem. The eventual transfer of Alder Creek to Giant Sequoia National Monument under U.S. Forest Service stewardship will allow this forest to be managed for its long-term survival. Source: MaxForster/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Save the Redwoods League One of the nation’s oldest conservation organisations, Save the Redwoods League has been protecting and restoring redwood forests since 1918, connecting generations of visitors with the beauty and serenity of the redwood forest. Their 24,000 supporters have enabled the League to protect more than 216,000 acres of irreplaceable forest in 66 state, national and local parks and reserves. For more information, click 👉 Source: RoyE.WilliamsII/SaveTheRedwoodsLeague
Alder Creek: A Conservation Priority Giant sequoia forests are one of the rarest ecosystems on the planet, encompassing 48,000 acres. Because giant sequoia occupy a small native range, it is vital that we seize every opportunity to protect them. In addition to giant sequoia, Alder Creek also contains robust stands of mature red fir, white fir, ponderosa pine, and sugar pine, as well as several other habitats, including meadows, wetlands, and riparian woodlands. Each sustains its unique suite of associated species; together, they form a vital and resilient ecosystem emblematic of the southern Sierra Nevada and California. Source: SaveTheRedwoods.org
THE PRESIDENT: THE WORLD’S 2ND BIGGEST TREE CAPTURED IN ONE SPECTACULAR IMAGE
ONE IMAGE, 126 FRAMES, 2 BILLION LEAVES, 247FT/75.3M TALL!
These staggering numbers represent one single tree, a giant sequoia called The President. What’s even more mind-blowing is that the tree is more than 3000 years old, and comprised of some 54,000 cubic feet (1530 cubic metres) of wood and bark. Photographer Michael Nichols photographed the 250ft behemoth in Sequoia National Park. –
