Restoring a Coast Redwood Forest
Luke Farmer
Sonoma Coast and Eel River Canyon Regional Director
The Wildlands Conservancy
The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) holds the distinction of being the tallest tree on Earth and is one of the most iconic representations of the Pacific Coast. This miraculous species is adapted to fire, capable of re-sprouting when harvested, and resistant to most pests and pathogens. In spite of these remarkable attributes, the coast redwood forest only occupies a narrow geographic range, stretching along the West Coast from the southwestern corner of Oregon to the Monterey area of California. This narrow range is determined by the tree’s need to utilize moisture from coastal fog during the hot, dry summer months experienced in our Mediterranean climate.
Due to its spectacular value as a strong and resilient building material, more than 95% of old growth redwood forests have been lost to logging over the last 150 years. Poor forestry practices and technological advancements during the 20th century resulted in thousands of acres of stumps where these ancient giants once dominated the landscape. The destruction of these intact forest systems has resulted in a massive decline in arboreal biodiversity, and flooded the local watersheds with sediment and debris, decimating the region's fisheries.
The Wildlands Conservancy’s Jenner Headlands Preserve, located at the mouth of the Russian River in Sonoma County, was once dominated by thriving redwood forests. Regrettably, this landscape fell victim to the same destructive practices that occured up and down the Pacific Coast, leaving only a handful of ancient redwoods scattered across a property now overwhelmed by closely packed young trees competing for resources. These dense young forests bear little resemblance to the towering mixed-age stands of the past, and are incapable of supporting the diverse array of species that once flourished along the coast.
Fortunately, The Wildlands Conservancy is committed to restoring old growth characteristics to the forests of the Jenner Headlands Preserve. Thinning has already been completed on 134 acres of a ridgeline Shaded Fuel Break, which serves as an educational tool for local communities and agencies. Working in collaboration with ecologically-minded foresters, we are beginning the larger process of selectively thinning swaths of forest in order to improve tree spacing and increase the availability of light and water resources for the remaining trees. These proven practices have been shown to increase redwood growth rates and benefit species such as the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), while simultaneously increasing fire resiliency on the landscape for the protection of local communities.
Forest restoration on the Jenner Headlands has only been made possible through years of planning and effort by Wildlands staff, who monitor forest growth plots and conduct annual surveys for northern spotted owls (NSO). March 15th marked the start of our 2022 NSO field season, and staff are gearing up to conduct nighttime surveys across the Preserve. When the Jenner Headlands Preserve parking lot gates close at sunset, our staff take turns monitoring established routes throughout the property, gathering information about the abundance and distribution of our northern spotted owls to ensure that forestry practices have no negative impacts on the local wildlife.
Resident and foraging owls are located by broadcasting their calls and patiently waiting for responses. When an owl is detected at night, we follow up with a dawn survey to establish residency and determine if an active nest is present. When nests are located, the Wildlands team collaborates with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife along with other professionals to establish the best management practices to minimize our impacts on this remarkable native species while we gently coax their habitat back to health.
As you walk our trails this summer, and in the coming years, we encourage you to take note of the developing forest, and the various size and structure of redwoods in different treatment areas. In time, the redwoods of the Jenner Headlands Preserve will begin to resemble the towering giants of the past, providing habitat for numerous species and inspiring awe in the hearts of our visitors.