Save-the-Redwoods LeagueSpring Bulletin 2008

On The Redwood Highway in Humboldt County,California, circa 1918.Photo: H.C. Tibbitts

Special Anniversary IssueCelebrating 90 Years and Growing

S a v e - t h e - R e d w o o d s L e a g u e | S p r i n g B u l l e t i n 2 0 0 8Page 2

Much has changed in the past nine decades, but not thesense of wonder and awe inspired by theseincomparable forests. I feel it every time I step into anancient redwood grove: peace, calm, and the harmonyof the natural world. I also feel gratitude — particularlyfor the Save-the-Redwoods League members who havesaved these groves for future generations.

In this special 90th anniversary Spring Bulletin, you canlearn more about the League’s establishment and itsaccomplishments. The Fall Bulletin will include moreabout the work that lies ahead for the League. I thinkyou will particularly enjoy reading the RedwoodMemories submitted by League members. We weredelighted by the outpouring of wonderful stories thatmembers sent in response to our request. Your lettersinspired me so much that I brought them home toread at the dinner table with my family. It isremarkable how closely your feelings echo those thatthe three founders described from their quiet walktogether 91 years ago.

In 1918, as today, the ancient redwoods were in highdemand for their timber value. Another immediatethreat to the forest today is residential development.The League’s Master Plan for the Redwoods, a science-based conservation strategy for the coast redwoods,gives us tools to identify where protection efforts arebest focused, ensuring that your funds are used aseffectively as possible. This Bulletin describes threerecent land projects that demonstrate our continuing

Executive Director Ruskin Hartley

Letter from the Executive Director

commitment to protecting old-growth redwoods,creating viable parks, and conserving the connectingforest landscape.

Today the State of California faces a budget crisis thatthreatens to close several redwood parks established bythe League. In the face of this calamity, I draw couragefrom the knowledge that Save-the-Redwoods Leagueovercame seemingly insurmountable challenges in thepast. It is worth recalling that, when this movementstarted, there was no state park system at all. The parksystem we enjoy today was inspired by the need tosteward the redwood groves the League had protectedand make them available to the public. What startedwith a single grove in Humboldt County has nowgrown to more than 250 parks that preserve thenatural and cultural history of California. It’s aremarkable system that deserves our continued supportand investment.

As Save-the-Redwoods League celebrates its 90th

anniversary this year, I invite you to join me incelebrating many remarkable accomplishments andfacing the future of the redwoods with courage anddetermination to preserve this legacy. Thank you foryour dedication and support.

Ruskin K. Hartley

In 1917, a walk through the primeval redwoods of Humboldt

County started a ripple that continues to spread across the

redwood forests. Today, you and I can take the same walk thanks

to three conservationists who started the movement to save the

redwoods. We also owe our gratitude to the countless individuals

who sustain the movement to save the redwoods. phot

o: P

aolo

Ves

cia

Celebrating 90 Years and GrowingVisit our special 90th anniversary page, www.savetheredwoods.org/90,

for event information and to download and share historic and inspiring redwood photos.

S a v e - t h e - R e d w o o d s L e a g u e | S p r i n g B u l l e t i n 2 0 0 8 Page 3

Welcome to this special issue of the Spring Bulletin commemorating Save-the-Redwoods League’s 90th

anniversary. On the next page is the story of how the organization was established and how it plans toexpand redwood protection. Page 6 tells the story of one of the League’s founders and his family’s history

of commitment to the organization.With your support, the League has come a long way in nine decades.

Redwood logging like this in Scotia, Calif., around 1918, spurred theestablishment of Save-the-Redwoods League. Photo: H.C. Tibbitts

US Congressman William Kent (left) and Stephen T. Mather, the firstdirector of the National Park Service, in 1919 were among the first topledge funds to Save-the-Redwoods League. Photo: F. Ransome

The General Sherman (shown) is agiant sequoia in Sequoia NationalPark. Save-the-Redwoods League hasa long history of protecting giantsequoias. For example, in 2000, theLeague and its partners acquired theDillonwood Grove of giant sequoiasfor Sequoia National Park.Photo: Ruskin Hartley

Following the Steps ofa Conservation Giant

Special Anniversary Issue — Celebrating 90 Years and Growing

Save-the-Redwoods League Milestones

1917 Logging devastation along Redwood Highwayspurs establishment of League in 1918

1918 First donation to purchase redwood land

1921 First forest acquisition: Bolling Grove

1928 Campaign to win public approval of bonds toestablish state parks

1931 Purchase of 9,410-acre Rockefeller Forest forHumboldt Redwoods State Park

1945 First grove donated for Montgomery WoodsState Reserve in Mendocino County

1954 League and partners acquire grove of giantsequoias for Calaveras Big Trees State Park

1960 Avenue of the Giants Parkway dedicated inHumboldt Redwoods State Park after 40-yearacquisition process

1981 Purchase of old-growth redwood grove for JuliaPfeiffer Burns State Park

1997 Purchase including 200 acres of old growth inMattole River headwaters for Sinkyone WildernessState Park

2002 Largest land acquisition by acreage and cost:25,000-acre, $60 million Mill Creek project

2007 1000th memorial/honor grove established

2007 Completion of last of four regional plans thatcomprise the Master Plan for the Redwoods

2008 Since its establishment, the League has assisted inthe purchase of more than 177,000 acres of California land

S a v e - t h e - R e d w o o d s L e a g u e | S p r i n g B u l l e t i n 2 0 0 8Page 4

operations. Farther north, along theEel River, they saw practicallyundisturbed forests. As theycontinued north, they reached theBull Creek-Dyerville Flat area inHumboldt County, an area densewith gigantic, primeval redwoodsreaching more than 300 feet high.In the presence of such awe-inspiringbeauty and serenity, Merriam, Grantand Osborn felt compelled to removetheir hats and speak only in whispers.

That evening, they agreed that a stateor national park was needed to savesome part of the north coast redwoodforest for future generations.Eventually, Grant worked withMerriam and others to form Save-the-Redwoods League in 1918,pledging $100 toward the effort. In1919, Stephen T. Mather, the firstdirector of the National Park Service,

Despite these successes, there is stillso much work to do: The Leaguemust continue to answer manyurgent calls for redwoodsstewardship. To ensure the redwoods’survival, the League in 2007completed the last of four detailedregional plans that comprise theMaster Plan for the Redwoods, ascience-based conservation strategy.Through the plan, the League hasidentified and prioritized the 15,000acres of unprotected ancient coastredwoods for protection.

The League’s past has been asexciting as its future will be, which iswhy, to celebrate its 90th year, theBulletin presents this look at how theorganization reached thismomentous juncture, and how itwill ensure the trees we all cherishwill endure with your support.

The Beginning of a MovementThe three prominentconservationists who wereinstrumental in establishing theLeague were John C. Merriam,University of Californiapaleontologist; Madison Grant,chairman of the New YorkZoological Society; and HenryFairfield Osborn, president of theAmerican Museum of NaturalHistory in New York. In 1917,Osborn and Grant invited Merriam,a professional colleague, to join themfor a trip to see the coast redwoodsin Northwestern California. Theyheard the new Redwood Highwayhad opened up the area to morelogging and tourism, threatening theancient trees.

Along the Mendocino County coast,they passed long-standing logging

The Dyerville Flat area in Humboldt County is dense waround 1918. The area’s beauty inspired the establishm

One visit to NorthernCalifornia’s ancientredwoods in 1917 was all it

took to spark the creation of Save-the-Redwoods League, rescuer of thetallest beings on Earth. In that year,as construction of the new RedwoodHighway tore through the forest,three prominent conservationistswitnessed the destruction oftowering coast redwoods. Thesegreat trees, some taller than 30-storyskyscrapers and more than 2,000years old, fell to the saw only tomake, among other products, grapestakes and railroad ties.

The conservationists were appalled tofind that not one of these astoundingredwoods, which grow only along theNorthern California-Oregon coast, wasprotected for public enjoyment. Thenext year, in the spring of 1918,conservationists channeled their senseof urgency and organized the League toensure that the ancient forests surviveforever. They also aimed to establishredwood parks, support scientific studyof the coast redwood, and fostereducational programs that wouldincrease public understanding andappreciation of the wondrous conifers.

Thanks to you, our loyal membersand friends around the world, Save-the-Redwoods League has achievedmuch to realize the founders’ vision.Since its establishment, the Leaguehas been a leader in effective landconservation. It has assisted in thepurchase of more than 177,000 acresto protect redwoods; created a systemof 51 California redwood parks andreserves that capture the diversity ofthe redwood forest for the public toenjoy; increased understanding of theforests through a competitiveResearch Grants Program; and,through the Education GrantsProgram, supported more than 140redwood education and interpretationprojects for people of all ages.

For 9Decades, League anSpecial Anniversary Issue — Cel

S a v e - t h e - R e d w o o d s L e a g u e S p r i n g B u l l e t i n 2 0 0 8 Page 5

with gigantic, primeval redwoods in this photo takenment of the League. Photo: H.C. Tibbitts

Visit our special 90th anniversary page, www.savetheredwoods.org/90,to download and share historic and inspiring redwood photos. Check thisWeb page, your e-mail and mailboxes for more information on markingthe League’s 90th anniversary.

Want to learn more about redwoods and why preserving them is soimportant? Attend events held throughout the redwood region, allsponsored by our many partners! Visit www.savetheredwoods.org, andclick on Events for the latest information.

and former U.S. CongressmanWilliam Kent pledged $15,000 eachto acquire redwoods from loggingcompanies along the highway ifHumboldt County provided anequal amount. Humboldt Countyvoted to match the Kent-Mather giftand acquire as many redwood areasalong the highway as it could afford.

A Tradition ContinuesToday, the League continues to saveredwoods in the same way theHumboldt County-Kent-Matherpartnership did — by using publicand private funds to acquireredwood-related land. To guide suchefforts, the League follows its MasterPlan for the Redwoods. The plancomplements the League’s work tostrengthen the connection betweenpeople and the redwoods throughresearch, education, and outreach.

The League’s conservation strategiesin the Master Plan incorporate thetheory and principles ofconservation biology. Key principlesof conservation biology prompt theLeague to acquire land to protectlarge blocks of contiguous redwoodhabitat that capture the diversity ofthe forest. These blocks cannotthrive for long if they are protectedin isolation from each other. So theLeague’s strategy is to ensure theseblocks, or core parks and reserves,are connected with wildlife andhabitat corridors. At the heart of theplan is the principle thatmaintaining healthy ecosystems ismore efficient and effective thantrying to preserve one species at atime. This is why the planincorporates protection of land thatsurrounds and buffers redwoods, butdoes not necessarily containredwoods, for example.

“The Master Plan presents anambitious vision for saving theredwoods,” said Executive DirectorRuskin Hartley, the plan’s author.“It gives the League a solid contextin which to evaluate conservationopportunities and facilitates animble, well-informed response.The plan also identifies where weneed to focus our work, and sets thecontext for the partnerships that are

Get Involved

nd Redwoods Stand Talllebrating 90 Years and Growing essential to expand the scale of

redwood protection.”

The Master Plan has grown from along tradition of planning at theLeague. Visitors enjoy the results ofthis work today: the regional, stateand national redwood parks andreserves. Guided by the Master Plan,the League is beginning a new era ofredwood conservation. While theLeague’s focus remains on theancient redwoods, its work mustexpand to ensure the redwood forestsurvives in the face of climatechange, habitat fragmentation anddestructive management. TheLeague’s approach will remainfocused on nonconfrontational andpragmatic conservation rooted in anunderstanding of the forest.

Despite having survived formillennia, redwoods can still fall inan instant to the saw. Inspired by itsfounders’ achievements and yoursupport, the League is broadeningits efforts to save the magnificenttrees. So let us move forwardtogether with renewed commitmentinspired by a quiet walk amongthese immortal giants.

The League gratefully acknowledgesCouncillor Joseph H. Engbeck Jr. forsharing his research on League historyfor this article. He describes theLeague’s role in saving redwoods in hisbooks, The Enduring Giants, andState Parks of California from 1864to the Present.

Extraordinary redwoods inspire extraordinarydedication. Consider the Connick family. WhileSave-the-Redwoods League celebrates its 90th

anniversary this year, the Connicks will mark their 90th

year of supporting the organization. Eighteen Connickfamily members spanning three generations have grownthe League from a seed to a conservation giant,donating their expertise, time and financial support.

The late Arthur E. Connick is not only at the root ofhis family’s involvement with the League — he’s aroot of the League itself: He was one of theorganization’s original incorporators in1920, a League Board of Directorspresident, and an active memberfor more than 40 years. Beforethe League’s incorporation,Connick, then a bankpresident, helped theorganization’s co-founders tosave primeval coastredwoods from loggers innorthwest California’sHumboldt County. As theirbanker, Connick persuadedloggers not to harvest the treeswhile money was being raisedto buy the redwood land fromthem.

Passing on a traditionArthur E. Connick fostered redwoodsstewardship in his son, Robert, by giving him a lifetimemembership when he was a small child. A professoremeritus of chemistry, Robert has been a Leaguemember for nearly 90 years. Since 1975, Robert hasserved as one of the League’s 60 governing Councillors.He also chaired the League’s Research Committee.

Robert passed the tradition of League service on to thethird generation of Connicks. In 1997, he nominated hisdaughter, Sarah Connick, Ph.D., as a Councillor. Sarah,now a League Board of Directors member and chair of its90th Anniversary Task Force, brings to the organizationconsiderable experience in public land acquisition andprotection of environmental quality.

“I view my family’s involvement in the League as atremendous privilege, because it’s an amazingorganization,” Sarah said. “The League has played a majorrole in how California’s redwood forests look and function,and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

Another branch of the family treeThe Connicks are related to the Howards, another familywith a history of dedication to the League. The lateBruce S. Howard, son-in-law of Arthur E. Connick,became a Councillor in 1963; served on the board’s

Development Committee; and became boardpresident in 1980. Bruce and Jeannette

Connick Howard, his wife, who isArthur E. Connick’s daughter, are

among the League’s longtimemembers. Bruce and Jeannette’sson, Barry Connick Howard,took the place of his grandfather,Charles P. Howard, as a LeagueCouncillor in 1979.

“I was really proud to do that,because I’ve always believedstrongly in the League’s mission,”

Barry said. Barry, still aCouncillor, also chairs the board’s

Education Committee, and chairedits Nominating Committee.

Yet another grandchild of Arthur E.Connick’s is a League Councillor: Peggy Coe

Light, who brings a wealth of financial expertise to theorganization. She also serves on the board’sDevelopment and Nominating committees.

“Every time I come to a League meeting, I’m remindedof my grandfather,” Peggy said. “Honoring his legacyinspires me to continue my work with the League. It’spersonal for me and it’s beneficial to the League.”

The Connicks and Howards exemplify thecommitment of the diverse Board of Councillors,whose members generously share their expertise andconnections to advance the League’s mission.

S a v e - t h e - R e d w o o d s L e a g u e | S p r i n g B u l l e t i n 2 0 0 8Page 6

Connick Family Tree, League Share Roots

arthur e. connick

sarahconnick

barry connickhoward

peggy coe light

margaretconnick coe

jeannetteconnickhoward

robert connick

Special Anniversary Issue — Celebrating 90 Years and Growing

Save-the-Redwoods League in January 2008awarded seven research grants totaling more than$90,000 to advance general understanding of

redwoods, their environments, and their relatedcommunities of organisms. Such research is critical forsaving redwood forests because it helps determine whatthe trees need to thrive and how damaged forests maybe restored. The Research Grants Program has madethese annual grants since 1997 to a variety of scientists.Most projects receive additional funding from otherinstitutions. Here is a look at some of the 2008 grants.

How Many Species of Black Salamanders Exist inthe Redwood Forest? $7,000; to determine whethersalamanders that look nearly identical, are in factdifferent species. The diminutive black salamander isnative to coast redwood forests and thrives in cool,moist environments. Because these creatures moveslowly and over modest distances throughout theirlives, researchers are intrigued by the possibility that

unique species have evolved in different regions of theforest. W. Bryan Jennings, Humboldt State University.

Lower Redwood Creek Juvenile SalmonidAbundance Project; $14,967; to determine thepopulation, status and trends of juvenile chinooksalmon, coho salmon and steelhead trout in RedwoodCreek in Humboldt County; and to assess watershedhealth, restoration activities and other qualities; WalterDuffy, Humboldt State University

Determining Shade Tolerance in Rare, Redwood-Associated Manzanita; $10,000; to understand theplant community dynamics on the edge of coastredwood forests, which may explain the evolution of arare manzanita species. Results may help explain howwildfire shaped the character of southern coastredwood forests and associated habitats beforeEuroamerican settlement.; Dr. V. Thomas Parker, San Francisco State University

S a v e - t h e - R e d w o o d s L e a g u e | S p r i n g B u l l e t i n 2 0 0 8 Page 7

New Grants Support Redwood Research

Save-the-Redwoods Leagueacquired three properties thatsupport the organization’s core

Master Plan strategies of protecting thelast remnants of California’s ancientredwood forest, securing viable redwoodparks and reserves, and maintaining theconnecting forest landscape.

Near the San Mateo CoastThe League purchased 100 acresadjacent to Butano State Park in SanMateo County for $942,000. Fundedby a grant from the Gordon and BettyMoore Foundation, the acquisitionexpands protection for ancientredwood forests, watersheds, and themarbled murrelet, an endangeredseabird. The League is working withCalifornia State Parks to include thisland in Butano State Park.

On Freshwater LagoonThe League also purchased 39 acres on FreshwaterLagoon in Humboldt County. Facilitated by a$275,000 grant from the California Coastal

Conservancy, as well as privatedonations, the $550,000 acquisitionwill protect the lagoon, its watershed’sendangered coho salmon andsteelhead, the property’s redwoodforest and adjacent land by preventingdevelopment. This purchase alsocreates a wildlife migration corridorconnecting Humboldt Lagoons StatePark and Redwood National Park.

Corridor from the Redwoods to the Sea In another Humboldt County project,the League increased the wildlifemigration corridor between HumboldtRedwoods State Park, Gilham Butteand the King Range NationalConservation Area and improvedprotection of a valuable watershedwhen it recently deeded 216 acres tothe US Bureau of Land Management.

The $200,000 property extends the League’s Corridorfrom the Redwoods to the Sea, which contains second-growth redwoods and habitat for endangered cohosalmon and steelhead populations.

Redwoods on acquired land adjacent to ButanoState Park, near the San Mateo Coast. Photo: League Staff

3 Acquisitions Save Critical Land

To receive e-mail updates about our work, send your e-mail address to membership@savetheredwoods.org.

Save-the-Redwoods League 114 Sansome Street • Suite 1200 • San Francisco • CA • 94104(415) 362-2352 voice • (415) 362-7017 fax • www.savetheredwoods.org

9 Printed on 100% postconsumer, ancient-forest friendly, recycled paper certified bySmartWood according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. The FSC promotesenvironmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of theworld’s forests. The printer, Watermark Press is also FSC-certified.

Save resources by taking these steps.

• Receive this newsletter by e-mail only. E-mail yourrequest with the subject line “E-mail Bulletin Only”to membership@savetheredwoods.org.

• Donate to the League online through our secureWeb page. Go to www.savetheredwoods.org andclick on “Membership, Join or Renew.”

Go Green This Spring

Join the Evergreen Society

Stock Donors,TakeNote

Redwood Memories

Share Your Favorite Redwood MemoriesUse this space to tell us your favorite redwood memory, then return it in the enclosed envelope. We might even publishyour story on our Web site or in a future League publication — just check the authorization box below. Thank you.

� I authorize Save-the-Redwoods League to publish my favorite redwood memory.

�

Join the Evergreen Society, our monthly givingprogram, by authorizing automatic credit carddonations of as little as $5 a month ($60 annually). Inaddition to receiving special recognition in our annualreport, you can opt to receive only one annual giftacknowledgment letter summarizing your gifts for thecalendar year. To join, contact Membership at(888) 836-0005, ext. 319.

Give a gift of stock. To ensure you get credit for thisgift, inform us that a stock gift is coming. CallMembership at (888) 836-0005, ext. 317, or e-mailmembership@savetheredwoods.org to provide the nameof the stock, the number of shares, and what your giftis for, such as general operations or land acquisition.Give this information to your broker: DTC #0418;Save-the Redwoods League account #546-30947-1-3-086 at Citigroup Smith Barney, Attn: Brian R. Peter,One Sansome St., 38th Floor, San Francisco, CA94104, (415) 984-6082.

Thank you to all Save-the-Redwoods League memberswho recently shared their favorite memories of enjoyingthe ancient forests. Contributions from members like youhave made possible experiences like those below. To shareyour memories, complete the form at the bottom of thispage or e-mail your memories with “Redwood Memories”in the subject line to membership@savetheredwoods.org.Please include your full name in the e-mail. We may wantto share your memories in a League publication. If youwould prefer that we not share your story, please let usknow in the e-mail.

• • • • •

As a teenager on my first trip to California, I wasoverwhelmed by the majestic trees. They appeared to me asfriends — giants engulfing me with their protective arms.I felt peace and at home secure in their presence.

— Rose, Member since 1985

• • • • •

My first-ever redwoods experience was riding into BigBasin from the coast at Rancho Del Oso. I'd never beenin the redwoods before and felt like I was a small objectin a very large terrarium. I was overwhelmed by thetrees, creeks and waterfalls. I've been hooked on redwoodsever since.

— Michael, Member since 1996

Cert no. SW-COC-1530