Save the Redwoods League has announced a critical conservation opportunity to protect 1,624 acres of redwood forest and coastal prairies along California's Sonoma Coast. The property, known as Sonoma Coast Redwoods, is currently at risk of residential development but could be permanently preserved if the League successfully raises $16 million by December 31, 2024. Located just a two-hour drive north of San Francisco, the Sonoma Coast Redwoods property borders Fort Ross State Historic Park and contains approximately 836 acres of second-growth coast redwood forests. Most of these trees are 80 to 100 years old, with some remaining old-growth specimens as ancient as 1,000 years. The land also features biodiverse coastal prairies and offers stunning ocean views.
Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, emphasized the property's significance, stating it represents a huge conservation priority for its climate resilient habitat, biodiversity, scenic beauty, recreational potential, mature redwood forest, and thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship. The acquisition aligns with California's 30x30 conservation goals and would contribute to the League's vision of doubling the size of coast redwood forests in parks and reserves to 800,000 acres over the next century. The organization has already protected 12,485 acres in Sonoma County alone.
Beyond its scenic and recreational value, the Sonoma Coast Redwoods property plays a crucial role in carbon storage and climate mitigation. Redwood forests are known for their ability to store carbon in their rot-resistant wood for centuries, making them valuable assets in the fight against climate change. The property also contains two miles of perennial streams, including potential habitat for federally listed coho salmon and steelhead. The land has a rich cultural history, being within the ancestral territory of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians. For millennia, the Kashia stewarded this land, supporting rich biological diversity. The area later became the site of the first non-Indigenous, commercial logging of redwoods in California following the establishment of a Russian settlement at Fort Ross in 1812.
In August 2020, the Meyers Fire impacted much of the property, with varying degrees of intensity. Since then, the current landowner, Soper Company, has managed the forest in consultation with the League to promote strong recovery and fire resilience, including planting 105,000 redwood trees. If successful in acquiring the property, the League plans to focus on protecting the forest's long-term climate and fire resilience through active restoration. Ben Blom, the League's director of stewardship and restoration, noted that with a history of sustainable forestry and a post-fire recovery program already in place, the forest is expected to flourish in the coming decades.
The acquisition would also prevent harmful development in sensitive habitat, maintain the viewshed along California's iconic coastal highway, and potentially allow for expanded, ecologically responsible public access, including a possible extension of the California Coastal Trail. To date, the League has secured $7 million towards the $16 million goal. The successful protection of Sonoma Coast Redwoods would represent a significant victory for conservation efforts in California, preserving vital ecosystems, enhancing climate resilience, and safeguarding an important piece of the state's natural heritage for future generations. Those interested can learn more at SaveTheRedwoods.org/SonomaCoastRedwoods.
