For thousands of years, the Redwood Forest of Northern California has served as shelter to many living things. But in recent decades, the Redwood Forest was nearly destroyed for its timber by the logging industry. Fortunately, the government has taken steps to save these valuable timberlands, setting aside parks and preserves in California and other states.
Redwood forests grow along the Pacific coast of California and stretch into southwest Oregon. In the early 1850s, nearly a million acres of the Oregon and California coastline was covered by these giant trees. Redwoods are resistant to insects and fire and can live more than 2,000 years. There are also nearly 50 prehistoric archaeological sites within the forest boundaries.
Redwoods can grow in pure stands or mingled among different tree species. Individual trees can be found alongside vegetation such as sand dune herbs and Pygmy Cypress. Other common hardwoods found in the area include California Bay Laurel, Coast Live Oak, Big Leaf Maple, Madrone, Tan Oak and Canyon Live Oak. Areas where Redwood is the dominant species are referred to as Redwood forests.
In 1922, 10 companies got together and launched a reforestation program. These companies established three nurseries at Fort Bragg, Scotia and Casper. They planted around 12 million trees on 26,400 acres over a period of nine years. Eighty percent of the trees planted were Redwood. Unfortunately, only about 20 percent of the new trees survived. Lack of knowledge, lack of participation by other companies and clear-cutting for timber contributed to the low success rate. Foresters advocated a new logging system, selective logging, and the clear-cut system was removed. In 1934, a tractor was developed to handle large logs and thus helped selective logging become standard practice.
Sadly, trees over 2000 years old have been cut down for use as railroad ties, shingles, fence posts and other uses. Preservation of Redwood species up until about 1900 was entirely focused on the Giant Sequoia. In 1918, Osborn, Grant and Merriam started the Save-the-Redwoods Organization. This league created four state parks in the 1920s and 30s. Because of this, future generations will receive a tree inheritance from past efforts.
Over the past 10,000 years, Redwood numbers have contracted and expanded. At present, the species seems to be retreating in its southern range and expanding towards the north. Despite its long overall history, the Redwood species has a brief present-day history. Changes in the environment over the past 4,000 years are reflected in old-growth Redwood. The younger redwood forests reflect this short history. Questions about the Redwood's survival may arise in the future due to global warming and anthropogenic changes in the environment.
