Trees are crucial to maintaining a stable human-friendly climate. Studies show that coast redwoods capture more carbon dioxide (CO2) from our cars, trucks and power plants than any other tree on Earth. And, as the climate changes, the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains are one of very few places that can provide a refuge for plants and animals here to survive, because the area has many microclimates, is cooled by coastal summertime fog and is still largely unpaved.
Wild, endangered creatures like mountain lions, Coho salmon and marbled murrelet depend on the local redwood forests. They need large, connected areas of diverse habitat to thrive among us humans.
Redwoods live so long – and are treasured by humans for building – because they are extremely resistant to insects, fire and rot. At one time, San Francisco’s building codes required redwood lumber to be used in the foundations of new structures. A redwood’s bark can be one foot thick, and it contains tannin which protects the tree from fire, insects, fungus and diseases.
Today, we have a rare chance to re-establish the once-vast and vibrant local redwood forest into a magnificent, life-giving world between Silicon Valley and the Pacific Ocean. With a little help from us to get started, the redwood forest can recover from the massive logging and fragmentation that took place during the last 150 years. It will take care of itself – and all the wild animals, plants and us – for thousands and even millions of years to come
(Facts provided by Sempervirens Fund 2016)