A newly introduced bipartisan, bicameral bill proposed by U.S. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) aims to improve the health and resiliency of America’s giant sequoias, which are the largest trees on Earth.
The Save Our Sequoias Act, S. 4103, which Sen. Curtis cosponsored alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), would help protect giant sequoias from the growing threat of wildfires, insects, and disease.
“Wildfires across the nation are burning longer and hotter than ever before, due to outdated forest management policies and increased fuel build-up,” Sen. Curtis said. “Land managers need the tools, coordination, and resources to reduce wildfire risk, restore forests, and ensure the next generation of growth can flourish.
“The Save Our Sequoias Act is an important complement to our broader bipartisan effort to manage and maintain our vibrant natural resources,” said the senator.
If enacted, S. 4103 would enhance interagency coordination, hasten forest restoration efforts, and provide resources to land managers to guard the ancient trees from further destruction.
The 34-page bill would require that no later than 90 days after receiving a request from the governor of California or the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation in California, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior shall enter into or expand an existing shared stewardship agreement or enter into a similar agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the tribe, and the governor to jointly carry out the short-term and long-term management and conservation of giant sequoias.
The plan is to help reverse the damage caused by catastrophic wildfires and restore the resilience of giant sequoias groves that provide critical ecological, scientific, and cultural benefits, according to the senators.
“For millennia, giant sequoia trees have been a cornerstone of California’s rich natural heritage, offering stunning recreation opportunities, vibrant natural habitats, and critical protections from wildfires and climate change,” said Sen. Padilla. “However, immense fuel buildups, forest mismanagement, increasingly long wildfire seasons, and other threats from insects and disease have decimated nearly a fifth of these ecological marvels in the past decade alone.
“We must work across the aisle to strengthen the resiliency of these groves to ensure these California icons endure for generations to come,” he said.
Among several provisions, S. 4103 also would establish a comprehensive reforestation strategy to regenerate giant sequoias in groves destroyed by recent wildfires; codify existing emergency procedures and maintain scientific analysis to accelerate necessary forest treatments; and codify the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, an ongoing collaboration between federal, state, tribal, and local land managers.
Additionally, the Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment would be established to prioritize forest management projects, track progress, and study the trees’ health and resiliency over time, and a protection fund would be created through the National Park Foundation to promote the resiliency of giant sequoia groves.
The Save Our Sequoias Act is endorsed by groups including Save the Redwoods League and the Tule River Tribe.
U.S. Reps. Vince Fong (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.