Save Our Sequoias Act

The Save Our Sequoias Act would create a comprehensive framework to protect and restore California's giant sequoia forests. The bill would establish statutory authority for the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, which would assess the health of sequoia groves and maintain a public website with information about individual groves, educational materials, and tracking data on reforestation efforts. This would help coordinate conservation efforts across different agencies and stakeholders.

The bill would declare an emergency on certain public lands for seven years, allowing officials to implement protection plans that respond to wildfires, insects, and drought without the usual regulatory delays. The Department of the Interior would develop and implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy to guide restoration work. These emergency provisions would enable faster action to protect the trees during the critical period when climate and fire threats are most severe.

Finally, the bill would establish various programs and funding mechanisms to support giant sequoia conservation efforts. For citizens, this would mean increased protection of these iconic California trees and their ecosystems, potentially benefiting tourism, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage. The bill has passed the House and is currently in committee in the Senate, where it would need to be approved before becoming law.