Environment: Save-the-Redwoods League Celebrates 90 Years Protecting Ancient Forests

Organization celebrates their 90th by handing a fat $10,000 check to the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society to provide urban students an opportunity to experience redwoods first-hand.

Save-the-Redwoods League, the only non-profit organization dedicated to protecting ancient redwood forests throughout their natural range, celebrates 90 years of work to ensure that all generations can experience the majesty of the world's tallest and largest trees. At its 90th anniversary celebration, the League announced a $10,000 grant to the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society to fund educational redwood walks for urban youth in Golden Gate Park.

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Herbert Hoover camping among the redwoods in 1928.

"Save-the-Redwoods League's grant to the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society will provide many Bay Area students with their very first opportunity to experience these majestic trees," said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of Save-the-Redwoods League. "The League's 90 years of work have been guided by our commitment not just to preserve ancient redwood forests, but to connect people to redwoods through meaningful first-hand visits."

Since its founding in 1918, Save-the-Redwoods League has played a vital role in protecting and enhancing public access to redwood forests:

• The League has preserved more than 180,000 acres of land that support ancient redwood forests and their watersheds through its land acquisition program.
• Save-the-Redwoods League led the campaign to win public approval for the first bond funds for acquisition of lands to establish the California State Parks System.
• In partnership with the State of California, California State Parks Commission and National Park Service, the League has helped expand 53 redwood parks and reserves.
• Save-the-Redwoods League has worked with private landowners and partnered with public agencies and environmental organizations to connect more than 10,000 acres of critical habitat within the Corridor from the Redwoods to the Sea, a wide swath of protected lands extending from the world's largest ancient redwood forest in Humboldt Redwoods State Park to the shores of King Range National Conservation Area, the longest stretch of roadless coastline in the lower 48 states.
• The League helped develop a model for redwood forest restoration by providing a large-scale restoration strategy at Mill Creek, a 25,000 acre redwood forest that provides habitat for 22 endangered and threatened species. The Mill Creek project, executed in partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, includes decommissioning of former logging roads, protecting aquatic habitats and managing vegetation to encourage old-growth forest characteristics and ensure public use of the park.
• Through its research grants program, Save-the-Redwoods League has awarded more than $575,000 to fund projects that have provided the scientific community and public with valuable new information about forest ecology, wildlife habitat and restoration.
• The League's education grants program has made it possible for thousands of California students to visit and study redwood forests. Since 2000, the League has awarded more than 150 grants totaling $580,000 to schools, interpretive associations and nonprofit organizations that provide redwood education.
• Save-the-Redwoods League has created opportunities for the public to participate in the effort to save redwoods through its redwood seedling and memorial grove program. With the support of individuals and organizations, the League has dedicated more than 1,000 memorial groves in California.

  Fifteen thousand acres of unprotected ancient redwood forest remain in California. Save-the-Redwoods League is committed to ensuring protection of these forests through productive collaborations between private landowners, the timber industry and public agencies such as California State Parks, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.

  In addition to protecting redwood forests, the League is dedicated to increasing the viability of California's redwood parks to expand public access to these natural wonders. The League aims to identify ecologically-significant inholdings within parks and critical connections between parks for future acquisition and transfer to permanent public stewards.

  The League's work is guided by its Master Plan for the Redwoods, a science-based conservation strategy for the entire coast redwood ecosystem. The Master Plan uses hexagon-based Geographic Information System (GIS) models to inform the League's strategy for land acquisition, restoration and creating viable public parks.

  Connecting protected habitat areas is needed to ensure long-term survival of ancient redwood forests. Linking natural landscapes to allow movement of animals and dispersal of plants is a key part of maintaining redwood ecosystems.

  "Effective conservation is about much more than protecting the world's remaining ancient redwood stands, said Hartley. "Forward-thinking conservation organizations such as the League recognize that connecting protected lands to create larger corridors of wildlife and forest habitat is critical."

  Research is also a vital tool in addressing evolving threats to redwoods. Through a new request for global climate change research proposals in 2007, Save-the-Redwoods League is actively encouraging scientific research on the impact of global climate change on redwood forests through its annual grants program. Mary K. Firestone of the University of California, Berkeley, is the first researcher to receive a League grant in this critical area of study.

  Leveraging technology such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to develop a nuanced understanding of what redwoods need to survive is a key part of the League's long-term conservation strategy. Three-dimensional forest maps produced from LiDAR flights sponsored through a partnership between Save-the-Redwoods League, National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management and California State Parks will ultimately inform forest restoration strategies, as well as help determine the carbon-sequestering potential of 138,000 acres of redwood forest in Humboldt County.

  "Tremendous opportunity exists for citizens, policymakers, the timber industry, conservation groups and public agencies to work together to ensure that the legacy of California's ancient redwoods is protected for future generations to enjoy," said Hartley. "We are the beneficiaries of visionaries who came before us and dedicated themselves to the protection and enjoyment of our state's magnificent redwood forests. In our 90th year, Save-the-Redwoods League honors the progress made and also looks forward to the work ahead to preserve these natural treasures for generations to come."

  Save-the-Redwoods League is supported by 21,000 members, as well as contributions from individuals and organizations. To become a member, dedicate a redwood seedling or learn more about Save-the-Redwoods League's efforts to protect redwoods, visit www.savetheredwoods.org.

  
  

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