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Nearly 400 Acres Of Redwood Forest Saved From Logging
Trees along the Russian River are reflected in the water on Oct. 18, 2014, in Monte Rio, California.
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George Rose
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Sonoma County partnered with a Redwood conservation group to purchase 394-acres of Russian River Redwood forest, including one of the tallest and oldest trees in California, the Clar Tree.
Why it matters: The land was owned in a trust by local timber logging company Redwood Empire Sawmill, over 200 acres of which was slated to be cut down in a commercial logging plan. The purchase of the land by Sonoma County and Save the Redwoods League last month will now protect the remaining old growth forest from turning into timber.
The Clar tree is thought to be about 2,000 years old and stands over 278 feet tall.
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Why now: For years, conservation groups had been trying to save the land surrounding the Clar tree from logging. Earlier this year, the Burch family reached an agreement with conservation groups on a $6.5 million deal. The money had to be raised within months, otherwise the company would initiate its logging plans.
In October, more than 2,000 volunteers pitched in to donate and reach the sale amount.
What's next: Over the next year, Save The Redwoods Director of Land Protection Becky Bremser said the Russian River Redwoods are “going to go into Sonoma County ownership…they’re going to start a public access planning process to really determine what are the needs, what is the best way to use this, how to activate it for recreation.”
Go deeper: Visitors To The World’s Tallest Living Tree Now Risk A $5,000 Fine
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