Saving Redwoods

The coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), from which Sempervirens Fund gets its name, offer immeasurable benefits that allow all forms of life to thrive. The redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains provide critical habitat for wildlife; protect the water quality of the rivers and streams that run through them; play a key role in influencing the earth’s climate; and are a continued source of inspiration, renewal, and awe due to their magnificent beauty.

Sempervirens Fund has protected 25,000 acres of coast redwood forests throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Because our organization has been working in the region for over 100 years, our relationships with local landowners and our conservation partners are deep and strong. With support from our donors and with public matching funds, we act quickly and decisively to save redwood forests as new opportunities for protection arise, ensuring permanent protection of the coast redwoods and their unique natural and recreational resources.

Here’s how we do it:

Land Acquisition

We purchase land at fair market value from willing sellers and transfer the land to California State Parks or other local public agencies.

Conservation Easements

We purchase conservation easements on private land that allow us to protect the land’s natural and scenic resources without buying fee title to the property itself. These lands stay in private ownership. Easements often limit development on properties and in return, the landowners receive compensation for their loss of development rights, either through a tax deduction or cash payment.

Trail Easements

We purchase access easements on private land that allows us to create new trails for public use. These easements are particularly important in our efforts to connect the existing redwood parks in the region.

Gifts of Real Estate

We work with owners of redwood properties in the Santa Cruz Mountains who want to preserve and protect their property in perpetuity by donating it to Sempervirens Fund. For more information on giving a gift of real estate, please contact Reed Holderman, Executive Director, at rholderman@sempervirens.org or (650) 949-1453.



The Great Park Land & Trees We‘ve Saved Caring for the Land About Coast Redwoods Redwoods & Climate Change Recommended Reading Saving Redwoods The coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), from which Sempervirens Fund gets its name, offer immeasurable benefits that allow all forms of life to thrive. The redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains provide critical habitat for wildlife; protect the water quality of the rivers and streams that run through them; play a key role in influencing the earth’s climate; and are a continued source of inspiration, renewal, and awe due to their magnificent beauty. Sempervirens Fund has protected 25,000 acres of coast redwood forests throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Because our organization has been working in the region for over 100 years, our relationships with local landowners and our conservation partners are deep and strong. With support from our donors and with public matching funds, we act quickly and decisively to save redwood forests as new opportunities for protection arise, ensuring permanent protection of the coast redwoods and their unique natural and recreational resources. Here’s how we do it: Land Acquisition We purchase land at fair market value from willing sellers and transfer the land to California State Parks or other local public agencies. Conservation Easements We purchase conservation easements on private land that allow us to protect the land’s natural and scenic resources without buying fee title to the property itself. These lands stay in private ownership. Easements often limit development on properties and in return, the landowners receive compensation for their loss of development rights, either through a tax deduction or cash payment. Trail Easements We purchase access easements on private land that allows us to create new trails for public use. These easements are particularly important in our efforts to connect the existing redwood parks in the region. Gifts of Real Estate We work with owners of redwood properties in the Santa Cruz Mountains who want to preserve and protect their property in perpetuity by donating it to Sempervirens Fund. For more information on giving a gift of real estate, please contact Reed Holderman, Executive Director, at rholderman@sempervirens.org or (650) 949-1453.