California

From the redwood forests
To the Gulfstream waters
This land was made for you and me.
Woody Guthrie

Coastal redwoods, the world's tallest trees, occupy a narrow strip of California coast, from Big Sur to the Oregon border.They are not to be confused with the world's largest living organism, the giant sequoia tree, also a redwood, which lives along the western slopes of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Woody Guthrie immortalized these trees in his fifties anthem "This Land Is Your Land," a rallying cry for the budding eco-consciousness of the turbulent sixties.

The giant redwood is no stranger to the news and controversy. On the plus side most of the remaining old trees are protected in reserves. Unfortunately this represents only three percent of their former glory. We are left with twigs, a lot of second growth, and a few memorial giants standing aloof like living rockets. Conservation of redwoods today often comes down to individual trees and a few scraggly patches. More good news, however. The villain in this story, Pacific Lumber Company, is belly up after decades of clear cutting and battling tree huggers. Finally, the bad guy comes in last.

But the struggle is never done, not as long as there are profits to be made. In spite of the old growth reserves, and even with the closing of most sawmills since the '08 economic bust, the emblematic wildlife species of the redwood forests-spotted owls, marbled murrelets, and coho salmon-are in steady decline. There is even poaching of trees and burls, just like in the third world. Where's the protection?

Yet there is reason for hope in redwood country. For the first time since the battle began a century ago there is more growth of redwood than is being cut. This may be a true turning point. Rumor even has it the elusive cougar is making a comeback in these woods. There is talk of a new forestry ethic in which the forest is managed to provide not only jobs and lumber, but wildlife habitat and clean rivers as well. And a new purpose has risen with the new millennium. Turns out redwood forests are the best at sequestering carbon to fight climate change. Thus landowners are being paid to let the trees live and grow. So one day there may be sweeping views of giant trees again.

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From the redwood forests To the Gulfstream waters This land was made for you and me. Woody Guthrie Coastal redwoods, the world's tallest trees, occupy a narrow strip of California coast, from Big Sur to the Oregon border.They are not to be confused with the world's largest living organism, the giant sequoia tree, also a redwood, which lives along the western slopes of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Woody Guthrie immortalized these trees in his fifties anthem "This Land Is Your Land," a rallying cry for the budding eco-consciousness of the turbulent sixties. The giant redwood is no stranger to the news and controversy. On the plus side most of the remaining old trees are protected in reserves. Unfortunately this represents only three percent of their former glory. We are left with twigs, a lot of second growth, and a few memorial giants standing aloof like living rockets. Conservation of redwoods today often comes down to individual trees and a few scraggly patches. More good news, however. The villain in this story, Pacific Lumber Company, is belly up after decades of clear cutting and battling tree huggers. Finally, the bad guy comes in last. But the struggle is never done, not as long as there are profits to be made. In spite of the old growth reserves, and even with the closing of most sawmills since the '08 economic bust, the emblematic wildlife species of the redwood forests-spotted owls, marbled murrelets, and coho salmon-are in steady decline. There is even poaching of trees and burls, just like in the third world. Where's the protection? Yet there is reason for hope in redwood country. For the first time since the battle began a century ago there is more growth of redwood than is being cut. This may be a true turning point. Rumor even has it the elusive cougar is making a comeback in these woods. There is talk of a new forestry ethic in which the forest is managed to provide not only jobs and lumber, but wildlife habitat and clean rivers as well. And a new purpose has risen with the new millennium. Turns out redwood forests are the best at sequestering carbon to fight climate change. Thus landowners are being paid to let the trees live and grow. So one day there may be sweeping views of giant trees again.

© Danny Kimberlin 2015