Expanding the Redwood Core LETTER from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mountain Echo THE NEWSLETTER OF SEMPERVIRENS FUND FALL 2018 Expanding the Redwood Core LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This edition of the Mountain Echo describes three redwood forest properties that Sempervirens Fund is trying to buy to ensure they remain protected, forever. These BOARD OF DIRECTORS properties are but a few of those that we are Diane Talbert, President Kevin Flynn, Vice President aiming to secure over the next couple of years — Amanda Montez, Secretary Richard L. Conniff, Audit and only a fraction of the ones considered for possible purchase. Gage Dayton, PhD William N. Harris Because not all redwood forests are created equal, we utilize analytical Fred Keeley Pamela Koch tools and criteria to identify those properties that have the most Kent Putnam Evan Siegel superlative conservation values and therefore are worthy of our precious Vishy Venugopalan conservation dollars. In the coming year, you are likely to hear from Jacqueline Wender Stephen N. Wyckoff us about more opportunities to save the redwoods we all love. We are unsure why, but many significant redwood properties that have long SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL Philippe S. Cohen, Ph.D., Chair been unavailable are starting to come on the market, and we hope to Anthony Ambrose, Ph.D. Nona Chiariello, Ph.D. make the most of this extraordinary time. Gage Dayton, Ph.D. Virginia Matzek, Ph.D. Lisa Micheli, Ph.D. Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D. When we acquired redwood forests a decade ago, we added Scott Stephens, Ph.D. Chris Wilmers, Ph.D. them to the California State Park system, helping to create and expand five state parks here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. While we STAFF continue to purchase additional acres of essential redwood forestland, Sara Barth, Executive Director integrating those forests into the state park system is not as easy as Patrick Gibbons, Chief Financial Officer before. Instead, we own and manage these forests, which requires us Michael Kawalek, CFRE, Director of Development to invest heavily in their stewardship. In the following pages you will Laura McLendon, Director of Land Conservation learn about just a handful of our current stewardship activities. You Barbara Lamb Hall, M.S. CFRE, Associate Director of Development will see how we take care of these forests – monitoring and evaluating Ann Blanchard, Annual Giving Manager their health; working to restore them if needed; and helping them stay Ian Rowbotham, Land Stewardship Manager healthy so they can resist the negative impacts of climate change and Lauren D. Chavez, Project Manager other threats they may face. Holly Grench, Donor Relations Coordinator Alyssa Gillooley, As we head into autumn and reflect on a year that is nearly Executive Assistant over, my colleagues and I give thanks for your support. It’s an exciting time and there is a lot of work for us to do — together. Thank you, Mountain Echo is published by Sempervirens Fund Sara Barth, Executive Director Dan DiVittorio, Design Contact Sempervirens Fund to republish or reference content. © 2018 Sempervirens Fund. Cover photo © Mike Kahn/SVF Purple lupine in full bloom next to San Vicente Redwoods Photo © Laura NcLendon/SVF Expanding the Redwood Core ou already know that redwood forests are But this probably isn’t news to you. pretty amazing. They are home to mountain The big news is that, now, you can Y lions, bobcats, coyotes, salmon, marbled murrelets, and, of course, banana slugs. They help help protect 500 acres more! clean the water we drink and the air we breathe. By capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere We are working to acquire and protect three and storing it in their beautiful trunks and far- magnificent redwood properties that eventually reaching, interconnected roots, redwoods also play an will become additions to Big Basin Redwoods and important role in maintaining the Earth’s climate. Castle Rock State Parks and the park-like San Vicente Because of redwood lovers like you, tens of Redwoods (which Sempervirens co-owns with thousands of acres of coast redwood forests are Peninsula Open Space Trust). These areas protect protected up and down the Pacific coast of North habitat for wildlife, watersheds vital to salmon, and America, many of them within national, state, and some of the only remaining stands of old-growth local parks. Because of you, Sempervirens Fund redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Now, just already has protected more than 34,000 acres in and as a redwood adds a new layer of growth each year, around Big Basin Redwoods, Castle Rock, Butano, we are continuing to add new rings of protection Henry Cowell and Portola Redwoods State Parks as by expanding core redwood areas that we have well as in the San Vicente Redwoods. protected in the past. WWW.SEMPERVIRENS.ORG 3 Photo © Laura McLendon/SVF Ponds are rare in the Santa Cruz Mountains but critical for aquatic species like the endangered red-legged frog. Expanding the redwood core of the Santa Cruz Mountains is not only an important goal — it is imperative. To help understand why the opportunity to This is why we are particularly excited about the protect an additional 500 acres of redwood forests three acquisition projects happening right now. We is big news, consider first what has been lost. In are in dialogue with landowners to acquire 130 acres the mid-1800s, redwood forests covered roughly next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 50 acres next 2 million acres from Big Sur, California, to southern to Castle Rock State Park, and 320 acres that buttress Oregon. Today, less than one quarter of those forests San Vicente Redwoods. By doing so, the boundaries exists, and a mere 5% of old-growth redwoods of each of these preserved redwood forests will remain standing. So little of the original redwood be extended, so that the wildlife habitat won’t be forests is left that every additional acre of protected impacted by construction of new roads or homes and redwoods is important. the natural systems at work can continue to benefit By acquiring properties adjacent to existing communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. protected areas, we ensure the protected areas are Of course, each of these acquisitions is also buffered and insulated from threats posed by develop- safeguarding wonderful redwood trees. The forests ment pressures beyond their borders. Expanding and on all three properties comprise primarily second- connecting existing protected habitat also helps growth redwoods along with some Douglas fir, ensure that wildlife has sufficient space to roam tanoak, madrone, and bay laurel trees. Some of the undisturbed. The larger and more intact these redwoods on the properties are now over 100 years conserved areas are, the better they function as the old. They are strong and healthy, and, with time “natural infrastructure” of this region, storing carbon and good stewardship, will grow into the old-growth and cleaning our air and water. redwoods of the future. 4 SEMPERVIRENS FUND - MOUNTAIN ECHO In addition to redwoods, we are saving other valuable habitats found on the three properties, including extensive meadowlands, maritime chaparral, the unusual Santa Cruz Sandhills (found only locally Photo © Laura McLendon/SVF Photo © Laura McLendon/SVF in the Santa Cruz Mountains), and riparian areas. Meadowlands — particularly meadows within a more broadly forested landscape — abound with biodiversity. They harbor a wide variety of plant species and provide important sources of food for wildlife, including deer, badgers, birds, and pollinators. Maritime chaparral, which grows in some of the higher elevations, is an uncommon plant community found only in smaller patches near the coast. Because of its rarity, maritime chaparral has been designated an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area by the State of California. The streams within these properties, which are located in the San Lorenzo River and Scotts Creek watersheds, are important sources of water for people and wildlife. These acquisitions will grow the perimeters of protection around Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and the San Vicente Redwoods. As a result, the cores of these safe areas will be strengthened. The trees will stand tall and the expansive forests will continue to function as the lungs of our urban region. The water that drips from green needles of the redwoods onto the cool forest floor will continue to flow into the creeks and streams. Expanding the redwood core of the Santa Cruz Mountains is not only an important goal — it is imperative. Thank you for helping protect the next 500 acres. Photo © Ian Rowbotham/SVF What on Earth is Ste wardship Anyhow? You have probably been hearing the word “stewardship” for a while now. It’s a popular word these days, and, although the Sempervirens Fund staff have gotten pretty familiar with it, we want to make sure you know what we mean when we say “stewardship.” After all, it is because of you that we are able to steward redwood forestlands, an activity that is at the core of our mission. If you put a group of conservation professionals in a room together to define “stewardship,” a long conversation would commence. That’s because stewardship can comprise a whole host of activities associated with caring for the Purple needle grass was an important food source for Native Americans in California. Designated California’s State Grass, purple needle grass is considered a sensitive vegetation type by the California Photo © Ann Blanchard/SVF Department of Fish and Wildlife. Photo © Alice Cummings The coyote brush (the smaller bush and mostly bare one too), lupine (blue flowers), Monterey pine (with the orange catkins growing on it), and coast live oak tree in this photo display some of the botanical diversity found on Cotoni-Coast Ridge. Botanical Bounty Earlier this year, you helped us to purchase and protect the Cotoni-Coast Ridge property near the town of Davenport.

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