125 Years
Always Green
In 1900, your fellow Sempervirens Fund supporters launched the redwoods conservation movement. Join us throughout 2025 to reflect on your 125-year legacy of protecting redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains to help ensure redwoods remain sempervirens—always green.
photo by Canopy Dynamics
A Milestone Year for the Future of Redwoods
In 1900—125 years ago—citizen activists joined in common cause to establish Sempervirens Fund as California’s first land trust. The core of our mission then remains the same today: protect redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Redwoods are one of the longest-living species on Earth. Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) live thousands of years—supplying habitat, carbon storage, and awe. Although only 5% of redwoods’ oldest trees remain, we are working to ensure the future generations of old-growth redwoods take root.
As we reflect on our legacy and look forward to the future, we are forever thankful to our vast community of supporters for your commitment to protecting redwoods. Our community, like the redwoods we protect, endures. Together we are Sempervirens. Together we are always green.
Join us here throughout 2025 to take action, reflect on our shared achievements, and look ahead to the necessary work needed to ensure redwoods thrive for centuries to come.
photo by A.P. Hill
125 Years of Keeping Redwoods Always Green
Our Story
In 1900, Sempervirens Fund led the way to protect six square miles of old-growth redwoods which are now the heart of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Together, we've protected more than 36,000 acres since. This is our story.
NBC Reflects on 125 Years
A group of tree lovers 125 years ago gathered beneath the leafy canopies of a grove of giant redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains and hatched a plan to protect them from the toothy threat of the saw. This is their story.
125 Years of Protecting Redwoods
In 1900, a group of citizen activists banded together to form Sempervirens Club—now Sempervirens Fund—and committed to protecting and nurturing coast redwoods. Reflect with us on the legacy of our vast community of supporters over 125 years.
Protected Redwoods since 1900
Over 125 years we have protected millions of redwoods across 36,000 acres of land and established expanded six State Parks and more.
Under the Redwoods
Learn how redwoods stay always green inour free Under the Redwoods webinars.
Redwoods Forward
In 2024 Sempervirens established Redwoods Forward, our strategic plan for the next century, with a focus on the protection, restoration, advancement, and access to redwoods necessary by 2030.
Share Your Memories
Share your stories from cherished moments among the redwoods and join our 125th Anniversary celebration alongside other members of our community.
Redwoods Festival
Hosted among the redwoods at the historic Roaring Camp, our first-ever Redwoods Festival will celebrate the redwoods with supporters like you and feature live music, train rides, hiking tours, food trucks, and other family fun!
Keeping Redwoods Always Green
Join Us
Sempervirens Fund knows how special redwoods are to people like you. You can play a critical role in creating the extraordinary redwood forest system we need today, for thriving wildlife, a resilient climate, and for the magnificent places people explore for joy and renewal. Your passion and your investment will continue a 125 year legacy of giant redwood trees, clear-running streams, and a healthy forest in our own backyards.
Let’s come together here and now to take action at this crucial moment in redwood history – so we all can enjoy the local redwood forest with our families and friends and countless generations to come.