The Best of 2026 So Far
What a year it has already been for redwoods. Because of you, Sempervirens Fund is protecting redwood forests, restoring treasured landscapes, reconnecting people with nature, and advancing the science and policies redwoods need to thrive.
PROTECT
153 Acres Added to Big Basin Redwoods State Park
The NoraBella property, also known as the Gateway to Big Basin, became the park’s first expansion in 15 years. This landmark transfer protects redwood forest, wildlife habitat, and waterways while helping shape a welcoming new entrance to California’s oldest state park as it recovers from wildfire.
RESTORE
689 Acres of Forest Health and Wildfire Resilience Work Completed
Restoration at San Vicente Redwoods is helping forests recover from the 2020 CZU wildfire and become more resilient to future fires and a changing climate.
RESTORE
251 Acres of Big Basin Forest Restoration Funded
This work will support the recovery and resilience of Big Basin’s old-growth redwoods following the CZU Fire.
RESTORE
Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Restored
Large redwoods were installed in San Vicente Creek to create healthier habitat conditions for endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead to spawn, while strengthening the waterways redwood forests depend on.
CONNECT
4.5 Miles of Timms Creek Loop Under Restoration
Work is underway to restore this major trail corridor through the heart of Big Basin, including installation of 22 fire-resilient bridge crossings. Once complete, the loop, including a section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, will reconnect visitors with parts of the park that have been out of reach since the CZU Fire.
CONNECT
1,075+ Volunteer Hours Contributed
Volunteers gave their time and talents to support redwood forests, public access, wildlife monitoring, community outreach, and other work that keeps redwoods thriving.
ADVANCE
56 Marbled Murrelet Detections Recorded
Researchers continued monitoring this endangered seabird in protected forests, gathering information that helps us better understand and care for the old-growth habitat it depends on.
ADVANCE
Research Guiding Big Basin’s Recovery
Long term monitoring is deepening our understanding of how old-growth redwoods recover from severe wildfire and informs future forest resilience work across the Santa Cruz Mountains.
ADVANCE
Important Conservation Legislation Advanced
With support from redwood advocates like you, SB 949 passed the California Legislature and moved to the Governor’s desk. The bill would recognize the Santa Cruz Mountains as a region of statewide significance.
And there is more to come. Look for Sempervirens Fund’s complete 2026 Impact Report in spring 2027.
Your Impact in 2025
In 2025, your support helped make redwood forests healthier and more resilient. Together, we completed fuel reduction and prescribed burn work across 333 acres, constructed 394 burn piles, and installed 271 trees in creeks to restore habitat and strengthen forest watersheds.
Your impact reached far beyond the forest. Sempervirens Fund advanced 14 research projects and supported 14 legislative actions. More than 22,000 advocacy actions from supporters helped build public support for conservation, while 79 volunteers gave their time and talents to redwoods. Researchers also recorded 27 marbled murrelet detections, providing valuable information about this endangered seabird and the old growth habitat it depends on.
Your Impact in 2024
Thanks to you, 2024 brought meaningful progress for redwood protection and restoration across the Santa Cruz Mountains. Together, we protected 51 acres and connected 500 acres of previously fragmented forest, creating stronger habitat for wildlife and healthier landscapes that can better withstand the effects of climate change.
Your support also powered hands-on care for protected forests. We completed fuel reduction work across 289 acres, removed invasive plants from 47 acres, constructed 500 burn piles, and processed 4,205 tons of biomass. We also continued 13 research efforts that are helping guide how we protect and restore redwoods for the future.
Your Impact in 2023
Thanks to your support, donations, and volunteer time, 2023 was an impactful year in the Santa Cruz mountains! Together, we protected and connected more than 200 acres of redwood forests vital to rebuilding Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and expanded Castle Rock State Park by another 200 acres. We cared for 12,696 acres of forests and documented endangered marbled murrelets among them. And we enacted our Climate Action Plan to help guide protection of priority forests and help accelerate the growth of redwoods to be more resilient to increased climate changes ahead. This is what impact your support had on our mission to protect and permanently preserve redwood forests:
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT
Protect What Cannot Be Replaced
You helped make this year’s progress possible. But redwood forests remain at risk from development, severe wildfire, and a changing climate. Once these forests are lost, they cannot simply be replaced.
Give by December 31 and your gift will be matched to double your impact. Together, we can protect vulnerable redwood forests while there is still time and care for these extraordinary places for generations to come.
Safeguarding a region at risk
Spanning more than 1,000 square miles, the Santa Cruz Mountains region is a spectacular, biodiverse regional wonderland. A third of the region’s forests are unprotected and at risk. Every acre of forest under threat can have consequences for what we have already protected. Intact habitat is critical for our forests and the wildlife that call them home to thrive, ensures clean water, and helps us prepare for and mitigate the risks of fire. Learn more about the risks to this region.
Despite these threats, your support ensures we are working to protect redwood forested lands critical to the region’s health and resilience. Learn more about how you make this work happen.
Together, we have protected more than 36,000 acres of redwood forests and helped establish three state and two regional parks. We currently own and care for more than 12,000 acres of forests throughout the region. With your support we continue to protect and care for more land every year, and deepen our partnerships to ensure our forests thrive for generations to come.
Learn more about how your support makes a difference
Our expert staff, advisors, and partners collaborate to ensure that the redwood forests most essential to a thriving and resilient Santa Cruz Mountains ecosystem are protected and cared for, always.
Follow along with us and our partners as we explore the science, beauty, and history of the coast redwoods.
