Gift Trees Planting Project – CA Southern

Project Description

The Gifted Tree planting project is in fire scar areas created by the Castle Fire around Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County in southern California. Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest.

With the recent proliferation of forest fires in the area, reforestation of these burn scars is essential to prevent erosion enhance water quality, and to create habitat for the many species of wildlife in the area. Recovery after a major wildfire is a long-term process. The first steps involve repairing areas damaged by fire suppression, and mitigating safety hazards such as fire weakened trees, burning stump holes, damaged utilities, and hazmat concerns. Many times, regeneration of the forest can occur naturally over time, but the recent fires have burned so hot, no natural regeneration occurs.

Your planting project includes planting a number of native species including several varieties of pine, cedar and fir trees, and of course, the Giant Sequoia. We plant a mix of these conifer saplings, which are 1-2 years old, with a goal of restoring the diversity of the forest and increasing its resilience to stressors such as drought, fire, disease and climate change.