A Changing Landscape
A natural cycle?
What was once a verdant and lush forest, is now quite different. And our work here has changed as well. Read on to learn more. Click to listen highlighted text! What was once a verdant and lush forest, is now quite different. And our work here has changed as well. Read on to learn more.
Planning for Fire
Ten years ago, when we protected this forest, no one could have predicted the devastation of the 2020 CZU Lightening Complex fire on this landscape.
Before the fire, we worked to create shaded fuels breaks – areas where we cleared away a lot of dry material from the forest floor. We also worked with Cal Fire and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to enact small prescribed burns that consumed flammable vegetation on the forest floor.
After the CZU fire, we could see clearly that in the areas where we did this work, the fire did not burn as hot, leaving nature with more to work with as it recovers. Click to listen highlighted text! Ten years ago, when we protected this forest, no one could have predicted the devastation of the 2020 CZU Lightening Complex fire on this landscape.Before the fire, we worked to create shaded fuels breaks – areas where we cleared away a lot of dry material from the forest floor. We also worked with Cal Fire and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to enact small prescribed burns that consumed flammable vegetation on the forest floor.After the CZU fire, we could see clearly that in the areas where we did this work, the fire did not burn as hot, leaving nature with more to work with as it recovers.
Fire Recovery
Since 2020, all of the partners managing this preserve have been learning from the land. So much so that we call this forest a “living laboratory” as it is teaching us all about how a landscape and redwood forest recover from fire.
In fact, just weeks after the fire we watched in awe as the redwood trees began to sprout fuzzy new growth on their trunks and branches.
While funny looking now, these new sprouts will, in a few short years, create a new canopy that will once again shade the forest floor. Click to listen highlighted text! Since 2020, all of the partners managing this preserve have been learning from the land. So much so that we call this forest a “living laboratory” as it is teaching us all about how a landscape and redwood forest recover from fire.In fact, just weeks after the fire we watched in awe as the redwood trees began to sprout fuzzy new growth on their trunks and branches.While funny looking now, these new sprouts will, in a few short years, create a new canopy that will once again shade the forest floor.
Healing Trees
Redwoods are known for their resilience. Watch this short video to see how the trees themselves create a compartment around a burn scar in order to protect themselves and continue to grow. Click to listen highlighted text! Redwoods are known for their resilience. Watch this short video to see how the trees themselves create a compartment around a burn scar in order to protect themselves and continue to grow.
rebuilding a forest
Sometimes nature just needs a little help. And when our forester discovered that there were thousands of redwood and Douglas For saplings that needed to get into the ground in 2022, we got to work! Thousands of these saplings are growing out there now, working their way upward through the fire following plants you currently see all over the forest floor. Click to listen highlighted text! Sometimes nature just needs a little help. And when our forester discovered that there were thousands of redwood and Douglas For saplings that needed to get into the ground in 2022, we got to work! Thousands of these saplings are growing out there now, working their way upward through the fire following plants you currently see all over the forest floor.