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Proceedings of the symposium on giant sequoias: their place in the ecosystem and society; 23-25 June 1992, Visalia, California.

Giant sequoia groves are part of a complex ecosystem which has evolved over thousands of years. European man's influence on the species began with the discovery over 140 years ago. Major discussion items are the species unique characteristics and habitat, natural enemies, the discovery of the species, early logging history, public grove acquisition, and various management strategies employed for perpetuating the groves. The sharp conflicts between the public agencies and preservation groups over the management practices are noted. Important issues are listed which require resolution to insure the perpetuation of giant sequoia groves, the specimen trees and the associated ecosystems. California's rich diversity of forest trees provides an awesome resource base with an extraordinary range of values. Our Mediterranean climate, good soils and adequate moisture create very productive forest communities. With the involvement of a large population of people who are deeply dependent on forest resources and keenly interested in preservation, aesthetics, renewability and utility of the forest resources, forest managers face a demanding job. They must consider forest history and all of the ecosystem components and they must provide especially for endangered species, responding to both public sentiment and needs, and science and politics as they develop management strategies. Old-growth giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is a unique component of the Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer type. The natural range is restricted to 75 groves scattered along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, between the American River and southern Tulare County. The large groves are concentrated between the Kings River and the Deer Creek Grove. The 75 groves occupy about 36,000 acres, ranging in size from 1 acre to about 4,000 acres. Characteristics and Habitat The Sierra Redwood is noted world wide for its great longevity, enormous size, awe inspiring beauty, ruggedness, decay resistant wood properties and its adaptability to thrive as both an ornamental and a timber producing tree in many locations around the world. Everything about the tree is intriguing from the tiny seeds (91,000/lb.) to the huge mass of the thousand (or more) year old giants and the beauty of the distinctive pyramid shaped crown of young giant sequoias. Seed production is very high, as many as 1,500 new cones per year from a mature tree, but viability is often as low as 1 percent with cones collected from the forest floor. 1 An abbreviated version of this paper was presented at the Symposium on Giant Sequoias: Their Place in the Ecosystem and Society, June 23-25, 1992, Visalia, California. 2 Consulting Forester, 2399 Kingsgate Road, Placerville, CA 95667; Retired Associate Chief, USDA Forest Service. Successful natural giant sequoia regeneration requires soil disturbance that bares mineral soil and adequate soil moisture for the entire growing season. The giant sequoia is less likely than any of its associated conifers to become established without the required sunlight and soil disturbance. Established sequoia seedlings, growing out in the open with good soil and moisture, will equal or outgrow any of the associated species. Giant sequoia is intolerant of shade throughout every stage of its life. Fires that cause enough disturbance to bare mineral soil and open the canopy to full sunlight benefit shade intolerant species such as giant sequoia and support earlier successional stages of plant communities. Sierra redwoods are but one part of a complex ecosystem. Perpetuation of old-growth redwoods is a difficult management job. At maturity giant sequoias are the tallest trees in the forest, dwarfing other conifers so that other sizable trees may go unnoticed. The giant sequoia is not a true climax species, as it does not reproduce itself in an undisturbed forest. However, any tree persisting for three thousand years or more, exerts a major influence on the ecosystem vegetation. Mature trees are successional relicts, living for many years, continuing to meet their light requirements by their dominant height position in the forest. If we were able to design the ideal conifer for our Sierra Nevada forests, it might look a lot like the giant sequoia. Examine some of the trees' attributes: highly adaptable to many changes in the environment, a fast grower with few natural enemies, extremely attractive as a young tree, able to reproduce by seed or by rooted cuttings, great longevity, good wood quality in young trees, and continued rapid growth even into old age. Giant sequoia has enormous potential for carbon storage and has demonstrated resistance to smog. It has been reported that the General Sherman Tree, at approximately 2,500 years has an average volume growth increment of 40 to 51 cubic feet per year, which may be the world's fastest growing tree!