What is killing sequoia trees?

Six fires, occurring between 2015 and 2021 killed many large sequoias in numerous groves across the Sierra Nevada (Figure 1). More than 85 percent of all giant sequoia grove acreage across the Sierra Nevada has burned in wildfires between 2015 and 2021, compared to only one quarter in the preceding century.



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Unprecedented Numbers of Large Sequoias Killed This is 31 to 42 percent of large sequoias within the Castle Fire, or 10 to 14 percent of all large sequoias across the tree's natural range in the Sierra Nevada (Stephenson and Brigham DRAFT in press).

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Visit the Parker Group Sequoias This is a group of giant sequoia trees that are huddled close to each other. We were thrilled to get up and close to some of the largest Sequoia trees. Unlike the General Sherman Tree, which is fenced off, one can walk up close to these trees and even touch them.

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Theodore Roosevelt led to the expansion of Yosemite National Park to protect the Mariposa Grove, and Sequoia National Forest was formed in 1908 to preserve many of the remaining groves.

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Redwoods also boast some of the world's oldest trees—California redwoods can live more than 2,000 years, while their close relatives, the giant sequoias, have been recorded at nearly 3,500 years of age.

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