What’s at stake?
About two-thirds of the region’s redwood forests are already protected. But, 610 square miles, or 390,000 acres, of priority forest land are still vulnerable to subdivisions and development. This endangers all the animals and people who depend on the forest. A vast Sequoia sempervirens forest thrived here for at least 20 million years, and with your help we can protect what remains and support people and wildlife for generations to come.
Of the 10,000 acres of old-growth redwood forests in the Santa Cruz mountains, less than 1,000 acres remain unprotected in small, fragmented patches across the region. These are Sempervirens Fund’s highest priority for protection.
See where you have helped Sempervirens Fund protect redwood forests
Protecting and connecting the remaining old-growth redwoods and second-growth trees ensures the natural systems can continue to function, and the healthy forest can sustain itself – and us. It will provide a safe home for wildlife—like mountain lions, marbled murrelets, and Coho salmon—and crucial refuge and recreation for us all.
And critically, thriving and connected redwoods are climate champions, resilient to fire, and capturing and storing more carbon dioxide, more efficiently, and for a longer time, than any other tree species on the planet.
Sempervirens Fund purchases or accepts donations of land for conservation by working cooperatively with willing landowners. Along with public parks and open space, we, our partners, and private landowners loyally restore and care for their land. This approach is crucial to the region’s long-term health and resiliency.
Learn more about how to protect redwoods with Sempervirens Fund.