How much of the redwood forest is left?

How much of the redwood forest is left? Fewer than 120,000 acres, or 5 percent, of the original redwood forest remains today. It's a tragedy to have lost most of the ancient redwoods; however, science-based forest restoration holds the key to bringing back what we've lost.

Are the redwoods still in danger?

Some of the modern-day threats to redwoods include climate change; human land uses not compatible with forest health (such as development and conversion to vineyards); intense fires; people's increasing detachment from nature; illegal marijuana cultivation; and burl poaching.

What is the biggest natural threat to redwoods?

Climate change, and its current and projected interactions with these stressors, jeopardizes the redwoods' ability to survive and thrive into the future.

What happened to all the redwoods?

The development of chainsaws and tracked bulldozers in the 1930s led to the massive increase in the rate of logging of redwood trees. Acres of ancient redwoods could now be cut down in just days. It was the post World War II housing and economic boom caused the majority of old-growth redwoods to be clear cut.

Will redwoods survive climate change?

As the climate changes, scientists predict that the range and character of redwood forests in the Santa Cruz mountains will change too. Some areas that have redwoods today could become too hot and dry to support them in the future.

Will the redwoods grow back?

Coast redwoods sometimes regenerate as seedlings but more often grow from sprouts, which start easily on lateral roots or from stumps or downed logs. Young redwoods grow quickly—two to six feet a year—so that a 20-year-old tree will often be 50 feet tall and about eight inches in diameter.

What kills redwoods?

Are more redwoods being planted?

Approximately 300 trees will be planted in 2022, and 700 in both 2023 and 2024. Humboldt State University student volunteer Sara Bandali preps a seedling for planting. Photo by National Park Service.

How long will the redwoods last?

They Live for Thousands of Years Although a redwoods' ability for a long lifespan contributed to its Latin name, Sequoia sempervirens—sempervirens means evergreen or everlasting” in Latin—most of the remaining redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains are “second-growth”, about 50-150 years old.

Can you sleep in the redwood forest?

No, you can't stay inside the Redwood National Forest, only in nearby towns. However, you can stay in the campgrounds which are located in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the parks that are joint together with Redwood.