Future of the Sequoia

           The future prospects for the sequoia ecosystem are mixed, with indications for modest, managed growth. On the positive side, the National Park Service and the National Forest Service are both working to help expand groves through seedling plantings, controlled burns, and undergrowth clearing. But a variety of threats to continued growth of the groves include uncontrolled burns, disease, infestations and human traffic. By instituting controlled burning instead of outright fire suppression, the National Park Service has made significant strides to improve the welfare of the Sequoia National Forest. In the future, the sequoia population in the region should remain constant through careful monitoring of forest conditions. Hopefully, the future of this ecosystem includes not only the preservation and continual growth of the already protected sequoias, but also the human aided development of new seedlings into full grown trees. Growth and expansion of this ecosystem may be possible but it will take time and human dedication to conservation to achieve this feat. But it is important to note that the limited size of protected areas limits the extent to which these efforts can assure growth of the overall grove population.

            In order to improve human impacts on on this ecosystem, the federal government, through the National Forest Service, National Park Service, and endangered tree species legislation should work with the scientific and conservation communities to develop a single, comprehensive management plan for long-term Sequoia grove survival within and outside protected areas. This comprehensive plan should seek to resolve ongoing concerns, including:

• Ongoing monitoring of growth and loss due to fire, climate, infestation, overuse, and human contamination
• Further studies to examine causes of premature tree death
• Enhanced public education and outreach to improve care and advocacy for the ecosystem
• Increased park and forest surveillance to help avoid accidental wildfires caused by cigarettes, campfires, etc.
• A fire management plan that balances planned, controlled burns with wildfire containment strategy and lost acreage due to wildfires
• Legislation providing stronger protection of this endangered tree species on private and public land outside the protected park and forest areas
• Strict management of recreational human traffic in terms of both volume and areas to assure that the most vulnerable “new growth” areas can expand without interference.

• Fully examine the impact on indigenous wildlife species before implementing ecological restoration treatments.

            By establishing a single comprehensive management plan for the Sequoia National Forest, we can alleviate these issues by setting precedents for the ecosystem’s welfare now and in the future.