Donors raised $15.65M to save a giant California sequoia grove

A 530-acre stretch of California forest filled with ancient giant sequoias was once the largest remaining privately owned giant sequoia property in the world. In 2019, thousands of donors came together to help Save the Redwoods League purchase and protect Alder Creek Grove for $15.65 million. The property contained hundreds of giant sequoias, including the enormous Stagg Tree, which is among the largest known trees on Earth. But less than a year after the purchase was completed, the 2020 Castle Fire swept through the grove. Around 38% of Alder Creek burned at high severity, killing at least 108 large old-growth giant sequoias. Much of the forest survived, however, and conservationists are now working to restore the damaged areas, plant new trees and make the grove more resilient to future wildfires.Thousands of donors came together to protect the ancient sequoiasSave the Redwoods League completed its purchase of Alder Creek on December 31, 2019, after a four-month public fundraising campaign. More than 8,500 donors from all 50 US states and more than 30 other countries contributed to the effort. The organisation raised the full $15.65 million needed to acquire the property. At the ...