11/03/2023
The incredible history of the Giant Sequoia National Monument:
When gold was discovered in 1848, California was under American military occupation in the war against Mexico. Living safely within the protected mountains of the Sierra-Nevada were dozens of Yokut tribes of Native Americas, subsisting on hunting and gathering and living largely unknown and unbothered by the larger world. They made bread from the acorns of abundant oak trees on the fertile hillsides and gathered in villages along the riverbanks. The earliest artifact of these tribes was found in the Mountain Home State Forest site known as the Indian Bathtubs, which is accessible by car. The artifact has been carbon dated to 8,000 years ago and is described on a sign displayed at the site. In 1848, knowledge of the giant sequoia trees dotting the steep western slopes of the mountains was held only by these native groups. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s, after the settling of European settlers had taken its toll on the native tribes, were the giant sequoia trees discovered to the larger world.
For decades they were logged, and the rare trees were toppled down. Their wood proved to be too soft and weak to be useful in building construction or just about any other worthy economic pursuit. There are stories circulating the Central Valley that once toppled, the trees were sent down to sawmills to eventually become stakes for propping up grape vines and toothpicks, uses that could have been achieved by cutting down any number of other non-threatened species of tree. It is sad to us that the logging of so many of these ancient trees was for such frivolous purposes.
Wide-spread logging before the turn of the 20th century inspired the public to clamor for their protection. Three national forests, three national parks, and various state holdings have met that demand. For over a century, the Sequoia Groves outside of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were managed as a National Forest and in April 2000 over 300,000 acres were carved out of the National Forest to become the Giant Sequoia National Monument, giving added protection to the trees and area.
Federal forest management practice over the last 30 years has consisted of ending the selective logging of other types of trees, avoiding the prescribed burns necessary to clear the accumulated undergrowth and fighting wildfires that are otherwise natural to the area. This led to a massive accumulation of undergrowth and an overgrowth of forest trees that fueled catastrophic wildfires in the area in 2020 and 2021. These fires turned hundreds of thousands of acres of forest to ash, killed hundreds of ancient sequoia trees that had withstood previous fires for thousands of years and destroyed communities throughout the region. With this devastation came new discussions and greater attention to the need to actively manage forests rather than promote a hands-off approach.
Although much of the Sequoia National Monument is scorched, the majority ancient giants and groves remain. Communities are rebuilding. Trees are being replanted by armies of volunteers. Nature is raining down new life and the animals are returning from their temporary shelters in the residential areas to food supplies growing back up in the larger forests.
Although recent flooding from record precipitation in 2023 has severely damaged road access to some locations, these roads are being quickly restored and constructed to be stronger and safer than ever. Rivers are roaring with cool mountain snowmelt; the trout are returning in great numbers. Visitors are invited to come back up the hill and watch the rebirth of a new forest and enjoy the peace and majesty of the giant trees.
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