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Always Green

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.

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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.

A black and white photo of dozens of Sempervirens Club members in 1900 sit in suits, dresses, and hats at the base of an old-growth redwood with a banner that reads

photo by A.P. Hill

125 Years of Keeping Redwoods Always Green

Sempervirens Club Members

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.

Read Our Story FireShot Pro Webpage Capture 085 'Remembering The Bay Area Citizens Who Saved The Redwoods 125 Years Ago - NBC Bay Area' Www.nbcbayarea

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.

Watch the Story A black and white photo from Sempervirens Fund's historic archive shows three men-in early 20th century suits consisting of dark colored trousers, white collared long-sleeved shirts with ties, dress shoes, and a few accessories like suspenders, vests, and hats reminiscent of fashion just after the turn of the century-sit casually atop a rock outcropping rising above the surrounding brush and forest like a spire as the view of forested mountainsides fade off into the distance behind them.

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.

Explore 125 Years FireShot Pro Webpage Capture 086 'Santa Cruz Mountains Sempervirens Fund' Sempervirens.org

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.

Explore Protected Lands Redwoods In Fog

Under the Redwoods

Learn how redwoods stay always green inour free Under the Redwoods webinars.

Register for Under the Redwoods RedwoodsForward

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.

Read Redwoods Forward Camp Jones Gulch Conservation Easement Stewardship Plan By Canopy Dynamics

Share Your Memories

Share your stories from cherished moments among the redwoods and join our 125th Anniversary celebration alongside other members of our community.

Share Your Memories RF STD Email

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!

Save the Date

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.

Donate Now Support Us Learn about our vision Learn about the Santa Cruz Mountains Learn how we protect redwoods

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