The Redwood Rising initiative is an ambitious restoration effort focused on the globally significant forests within Redwood National and State Parks, which contain nearly half of the world’s remaining protected old-growth redwoods.
These ancient ecosystems are among the most efficient carbon sinks on the planet, storing more carbon per acre than any other forest type. Their preservation and restoration are seen as crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change. Redwood Rising represents a large-scale, cooperative venture aimed at revitalizing these damaged landscapes.
Despite legal protections, nearly two-thirds of the parks’ 120,000 redwood-covered acres have been severely impacted by historical logging operations. In some areas, timber extraction continued into the 1990s, resulting in fragmented forests, eroded streambanks, degraded habitats, and hundreds of miles of decaying roads.
Recognizing that natural recovery in these areas would be extremely slow without assistance, organizations involved in Redwood Rising have committed to actively guiding the regeneration process. The initiative is a collaborative partnership among Save the Redwoods League, California State Parks, and the National Park Service, supported by local communities, Indigenous groups, park visitors, and forest advocates.
The project goes beyond simple reforestation. Restoration activities include repairing damaged watersheds, removing obsolete logging roads that contribute to erosion, and fostering conditions that allow young forests to evolve more rapidly into complex, old-growth systems. These efforts support a range of endangered and sensitive species such as salmon, trout, the marbled murrelet, and the western lily.
Redwood Rising seeks to restore ecological integrity across a broad landscape, connecting fragmented old-growth areas to establish continuous wildlife corridors. These linkages are vital for species movement and long-term ecosystem resilience.
In addition to enhancing biodiversity and carbon storage, the project contributes to climate adaptation by accelerating the maturation of redwood forests capable of withstanding climate stress. Restored forests play a crucial role in capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and buffering the effects of global warming.
The initiative also provides tangible economic benefits. It creates restoration-related employment, boosts regional tourism, and incorporates Indigenous ecological knowledge into forest management strategies. Tribal partners play an active role in shaping restoration approaches based on ancestral stewardship practices.
Recent scientific findings have further emphasized the importance of timely intervention. While mature redwood forests demonstrate strong resistance to climate impacts like wildfires, previously logged areas remain ecologically vulnerable until properly restored.
The launch of Redwood Rising coincides with a broader national focus on forest conservation. Save the Redwoods League has recently expressed strong support for the Save Our Sequoias Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting giant sequoias—relatives of the coast redwood—from increasingly destructive wildfires in the Sierra Nevada. In the last decade alone, extreme fires have claimed roughly 20% of mature sequoia trees, highlighting the urgency of proactive, science-driven forest management.
In addition, the League is pushing back against proposed regulatory changes that could weaken protections under the Endangered Species Act. Of particular concern is a federal proposal to redefine the term “harm,” which could reduce legal safeguards for critical habitats essential to redwood ecosystems.
Redwood Rising exemplifies an integrated approach to ecological restoration—balancing immediate action with long-term sustainability goals. By facilitating the structural and biological complexity of mature forests, the initiative helps fast-track the recovery of logged lands.
Visitors to Redwood National and State Parks can observe restoration efforts underway in areas such as the Prairie Creek and Mill Creek watersheds. Educational programs help the public understand the ecological importance of these activities and the transformation taking place.
With ongoing collaboration and community engagement, Redwood Rising aspires to leave a lasting legacy of thriving, climate-resilient forests that preserve biodiversity, capture carbon, and continue to inspire future generations. The initiative stands as a model for large-scale, nature-based solutions to interconnected environmental challenges.
