Sequoias are the world’s most massive trees. They are located on the western slope of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. They are one of the most ancient trees in the world. They are more than 3000 years old. They belong to one of the three members, classified in the family Cupressaceae, in the subfamily Sequoioideae. 

Nowadays the sequoia is among the endangered species. They are one of the tallest and largest trees in the world. They are part of our heritage. The efforts to conserve and save these incredible beauties have started more than 150 years ago. Researches have been performed for years to discover new things about the Sequoias. Now we know a lot about their delicate ecosystem.

Sequoias store more carbon than any other plant type. They have stored the carbon that they have extracted from our atmosphere for more than 3000 years. The people are now aware of their importance and they are thriving to protect them in every possible way they can.

Grassroots movement, National park service, Save the Redwood League are some of the movements that have worked to make people aware of the beauty and the importance of these incredible trees.

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln started to work on the protection of these Giant and ancient trees. He protected Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of Big Trees. After that attention to the treatment of Giant Sequoia and redwoods in California started.

In 1893, President Benjamin Harrison established the Sierra Forest Reserve of over four million acres. it was because they realized that their economy is directly related to the clean water reaching their lands from Sequoia covered mountains.

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt formed the Sequoia National Forest. By then it has become clear that the conservation of these Landscapes is important. Till the middle of the twentieth century, about ninety percent of the Sequoia forests were conserved in National Parks.

By the end of the twentieth century, Save the Redwood League was formed to save the Sequoia grooves of Sierra Nevada. In 2000, President Bill Clinton established the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Bill Clinton mentioned,

“Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity, and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is to keep it for your children, grandchildren and all who come after you”

We have to realize that these Giant trees are our beautiful natural heritage. We have to protect them at all costs. We have to realize their importance. We have to do every possible thing that we can to save them. Not all Sequoias are protected within park systems. The largest private Sequoia groove is owned by the Rouch family and nowadays efforts are being made to acquire these landscapes.

Sam Hodder, the president of Save the Redwoods mentioned,

“The forest is truly ancient and we have now got this extraordinary, unique opportunity to restore and protect them”

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