California’s Giant Sequoia Belt Monarchs of the Glen
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By Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith Standing next to a Giant Sequoia gives you a glimpse of what dinosaur days were like, and indeed, fossils of the Giant Sequoias dating back to the Jurassic Period (about 200-145 million years ago) have been found in Chile, Australia an Antarctica. Once spread from Maine to Idaho, (in fact 40-60 million years ago sequoias grew in Yellowstone National Park), it is believed ice sheets exterminated them. Now we have two surviving species, the Coastal Redwoods and the Giant Sequoias of the Sierra’s that only grow naturally in narrow strips of groves in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
Big Blend Radio interview on California’s Sequoia Country with Dana Dierkes – Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Denise Alonzo – Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sandy Blankenship – Exeter Chamber of Commerce, and Aaron Collins – Sequoia Riverlands Trust.
The major threat to the health of the Giant Sequoia Trees is wildfire. Because the areas around the parks and forests must be protected, fires are put out as quickly as possible. If Nature had its way, The largest trees on earth, Sequoias only grow between an elevation of 4500 to 7000 and can get to the wildfires, started by lightning strikes (not people) would burn the undergrowth, making it be as large as 300 plus feet tall and as wide as 34 feet in diameter. The Giant Sequoias in California’s possible for the Sequoia seeds to germinate Sequoia Country, are between 500-2000 years old. without competing vegetation. Over the years, vegetation has become thick, making it difficult for But, the sequoias are not the only larger than life trees in California’s Sequoia Country; there are Red the seed to reach the soil and sprout. And now, Fir, White Fir, Sugar Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Incense when there is a fire, it burns hotter than what would have happened if all the underbrush of fallen limbs Cedar, California Black Oak, plus a variety of shrubs. You will also find beautiful meadows full of and trees were not prevalent–threatening the big blossoms, bees, dragonflies, birds and butterflies– trees. So, when you visit the parks, forest and monument, you may see prescribed burns to help making the huge trees even more pronounced. alleviate fire danger. PAGE 50