Giant sequoias can live 3,000 years, but California fires destroyed 1 in 5
A NASA-funded study indicates that prescribed burning is an effective strategy for protecting California's giant sequoias from the increasingly intense wildfires driven by climate change. The research follows the loss of nearly 20% of mature sequoias during the 2020-2021 wildfire seasons.
Why it matters
This provides actionable scientific evidence for forest management policies needed to preserve ancient ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.
California's giant sequoias have stood tall for thousands of years, surviving droughts, storms and countless natural fires. Yet, in just two wildfire seasons, these ancient giants suffered unprecedented losses. Between 2020 and 2021, record-breaking wildfires are estimated to have killed nearly 17% of the world's mature giant sequoias, roughly one in every five trees. Now, a NASA-funded study published in the journal Nature Communications offers encouraging evidence that a long-used forest management practice, known as prescribed or controlled burning, can dramatically improve their chances of survival during extreme wildfires.Why giant sequoias are suddenly at riskGiant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are among the largest and oldest living organisms on Earth. They have evolved to withstand frequent, low-intensity fires thanks to their thick, fire-resistant bark, towering canopies and elevated branches.
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