Giant sequoias grow indigenously on the western slopes of California's Sierra Nevada. These trees are historically known to be resilient to wildfire, but as weather events have become more extreme, the local populations of giant sequoias have dwindled. Some experts estimate that California has lost twenty percent of the giant sequoia population to recent wildfires. And as fires become more intense with climate change, they pose mounting threats to natural resources, livelihoods, and communities.

Originally published in the Daily Journal - September 7, 2023.