Can giant sequoias be saved from California wildfires?
The majestic trees, among the largest and oldest on Earth, were once thought to be resilient against wildfires. But as blazes last longer, and rage through more acres of forest each year, these towering giants are burning at an alarming rate.
Since the KNP Complex Fire and the Windy Fire erupted near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in September, more than 26 groves of giant sequoias were destroyed by the ravaging flames.
Tim Borden, Sequoia Restoration and Stewardship Manager with Save the Redwoods League, said that there’s an element of "climate grief" when managing sequoias in Northern California.
"It's been a terrible fire season across the Sierra, but especially in the giant sequoia range," he told KCBS Radio's "Bay Current" on Wednesday. "Giant sequoias are a tree that we didn’t think was susceptible to catastrophic wildfires, up until just a couple of years ago. Last year in the Castle Fire, we lost between 10-14% of old growth giant sequoia that we have on the planet in one fire."
Experts formerly believed that sequoias were immune to wildfires because they need fire in order to reproduce.
However, Borden explained that the trees thrive only under low intensity flames whereas recent blazes have been hotter and more severe.
The climate emergency has led to drier conditions and massive long term droughts throughout California, which, combined with poor forest management, has greatly contributed to the surge in harsher wildfires.
"It's kind of a like a perfect storm," Borden added.
To learn more about the impact of the wildfires, and better understand what is happening to redwood forests, visit Save the Redwoods League's website.
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