 Big Basin redwood, August 2020 Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP "We're all watching the evolution of ecosystems in real time, and it's the result of environmental changes." --Mimi Guiney, a former Big Basin State Park Ranger It's now September along the Central Coast, and weather patterns are changing. Currently, a system called Tropical Storm Mario, is losing its tropical characteristics as it moves into colder waters. Its moisture is still bringing a chance of summer storms and elevated fire danger to California. In August 2020, an ecosystem disruption, described as a dry lightning fire event, devastated the Santa Cruz Mountains. Along with fire, other ecosystem disruptions occur:
So, what does it mean for redwood forest ecosystems? The redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains don't rebound from drought like the redwoods in Northern California. According to Tim Hyland, Environmental Scientist for California State Parks, there is a "moisture gradient" between the southern and northern ranges of redwoods. Drought-stressed trees experience higher temps, and longer dry spells, versus increasingly powerful winters in the north, with flooding, and tree falls. Ways to find hope, and dealing with challenges "Climate change is not a belief system, it's an act." —Mark Hylkema, Former Big Basin State Park, Archeologist Mainstream conservation is just broken right now. In local communities, keeping the public informed about environmental challenges, and empowering them to volunteer can be an act of hope. There are resilient people you can connect with! For example, in the Santa Cruz Mountains Sector of the California State Parks, there's an effort going on to reduce fuel load in the groves of old growth redwood trees. Preserving these critical habitats protects the biodiversity of the ecosystem; its diverse plants and animals. The redwoods are also exceptionally effective at sequestering carbon, storing significantly more carbon above ground than other forests, due to their longevity, immense height, and resistance to rot. Fire and Land Stewardship Animals, plants, and people have been in sync for thousands of years. Prescribed burns for fuel reduction and plant propagation has been a part of early tribal community practices. There are multiple types of prescribed burning. Below are two examples of burning. Broadcast burning and pile burning. Both were photographed at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in the grove.  This broadcast burn includes small brush and duff. The video below represents a pile burn.  Burn pile, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park The majority of visitors ask, "What are those tepees?" Smiling I reply, "It's not a new glamping experience!" It is however, an opportunity for the public to get involved with land stewardship! To date, over 300 burn piles have been made, largely a result of volunteer efforts! According to Tim Hyland, CA State Parks:
What’s left is nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium that improve native plant propagation, and reduce fire-intolerant species. “Prescribed fire, or the use of fire under predetermined conditions to achieve specific objectives, is now well-recognized as one of the most versatile and cost-effective tools available, with utility for many different kinds of California land managers, from private ranchers and forestland owners to tribes to staff on national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.” —Lenya Quinn-Davidson is spearheading a UC-backed movement that empowers California citizens to fight fire with fire  Prepping to build burn piles in Big Basin State Park The past 12 weeks in the UC Climate Steward Program has been so inspiring. Feeling much more comfortable discussing shared values related to climate change. Below is a preview of an educational activity I developed for my capstone project. Of course the topic is redwoods and climate change, right?!? Climate Change Perceptions
Missing Tree Rings Spell Danger For ForestsDr. Daniel Griffin is a dendrochronologist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. He studies climate and ecosystem change via tree ring data. This article caught my attention because I've been looking at coast redwood tree rings and am interested in the work done by Zane Moore at UC Davis and California State Parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Less than 5 percent of old growth coast redwoods are left along the California and Oregon coast, and many are over 1,000 years old. Tree rings tell a story, but can they predict the future health of a forest? There is uncertainty in the science community about how long the ongoing drought and our ever-warmer climate are affecting these forests. Redwoods are great at adapting to water absorption using specialized shoots that vary from northern and southernmost forests. [1] But many are in the grips of a mega-drought and extreme fire events. [2] Will the coast redwoods’ missing tree rings spell out the future of the forests? Is the worst-case scenario avoidable? This 500 Year Old Tree in California Has a Story to Tell, by Daniel Griffin, New York Times, July 2022  An ancient Douglas fir tree on Mount Pinos in Southern California.
These are a few outcomes described in 2016 by the Environmental Protection Agency, "What Climate Change Means for California." An outline of 2021 initiatives are presented by President Biden's, Leaders Summit on Climate, addressing the need to urgently take action. This means world wide action to "protect critical ecosystems, build resilience against the impacts of climate change, and promote the flow of capital toward climate-aligned investments and away from high-carbon investments." Things anyone can do to take climate action now (from EarthDay.org):
 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, California |
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