Why these giants of the tree world, under threat of California wildfires, are so special

By Forrest Brown and Marney Hunter | CNN

The tallest trees on earth, with their huge, sloping ceilings, rise to the top and are easily weighed down.

These trees have a limited range, however: they are found only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.

This threatened another California wildfire.

Learn more about these amazing and long-lived giants below.

Which giant sequoia are in danger of wildfires?

Authorities say a fire broke out at the famous Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park. But the park and ground firefighters did their best to protect the trees.

“We are convinced that the removal of the hazards and the burning of our orders, combined with the temporary spraying system in place, will provide the best protection for those giant securities,” said park ranger Nancy Filipe. He spoke to CNN on Monday.

Giant Sequoia lives in three bushes in Yosemite National Park. Mariposa Grove, just south of the park, is easily accessible.

According to a law signed by President Abraham Lincoln, Mariposa Grove, home to more than 500 mature Sequoia giants, was protected in 1864 for “public interest, resort and recreation.”

Grove’s idea of ​​a national park is symbolic. Land around Grove and the valley became the National Park in 1890.

Is Sequoia only found in Yosemite?

No, their natural habitat in Cyrus, California, extends beyond the boundaries of Yosemite (and they grow successfully outside of the state).

Sekoya and King Canyon National Parks derive its name from the tree. And not just in national parks.

For example, you can see the federally run Sekoya National Forest, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and Balch Park in Tulare County, west of Death Valley.

Currently, not all Sequoia Groves are in danger of wildfires.

Why a specific area for these trees?

These giants, as tall as a 26-story building like the National Park Service, need special conditions for development.

The median zone of 5,000 to 8,000 feet (1,524 to 2,438 meters) creates unique, essential conditions.

• Moderate temperatures in winter and summer • Deep snow cover • “Rich fire history”

But the climate crisis is producing long-term fires, and this could affect the future of giant Sequoia Groves like Mariposa.

Is Fire a Friend or an Enemy to the Great Sequoia?

Both are.

“The giant Sequoia is compatible with natural fire – how they breed, when fire is released from the condoms,” said Base Pratt, director general of the National Wildlife Federation of California. He told CNN Travel in an email interview on Monday afternoon.

“Their branches are high on the trunk, and their sponge shell protects them from the heat. But the unfamiliarity is the new fire system caused by climate change.

How is the fire doing more damage?

Pratt, who lives on the edge of Yosemite and sees the smoke coming out of the chimney, said: “Not only the longer fires but also the more frequent fires and more intense fires that burn in fires and high temperatures.” Fire.

According to the National Park Service, more than 85 percent of Sequoia Grove acres in Sierra Nevada caught fire between 2015 and 2021, causing a sharp increase in fires. ‘”

What is so special about sequoias?

For one thing, the giant Sequoia may be over 3,000 years old.

At the age of 3,266, the most famous specimen is in the National Basin Grove of Giant Sequoia National Monument, according to the National Park Service. The monument is a four-hour drive south of Yosemite.

Of the other two species of trees in the world, only the giant Sequoia – Brislecon pine and alliance trees can survive longer.

The giant squirrels have more than 100 feet (30.5 m) of land.

According to Sekoya Solutions, which promotes the benefits of planting, they are huge in carbon footprint. “Sequoia is a marvel of carbon emissions and has been locked up for thousands of years,” the website said.

Are sequoias and redwoods a tree?

They are not. The giant Sequoia and Redwood are closely related but not the same tree. The National Park Service explains the two differences:

Residence Sequoia is located at an altitude of 4,000 to 8,000 feet (1,220 to 2,440 m) in central California at a distance of 250 miles (402 km). Redwood grows along the 450-mile (725 km) belt on the northern California coast near the Pacific Ocean.

Shape and size; “Sequoia is the largest tree in the world and has a huge trunk with very small tapes. Redwood is the tallest tree in the world with a slender trunk.

What are the emotional and physical effects of this threat?