[ECO]The Environmental Importance of Redwood Trees at the Muir Woods National Monument

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The environmental importance of redwood trees at the Muir Woods National Monument

This summer, I visited

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in California. I was astonished not only by the size of the redwood trees but also by how somewhere so naturally beautiful can exist right at our fingertips. It was almost like walking through a scene in a ****** tale. Not to mention the significant environmental impact places like Muir Woods and other national parks have on our environment.

The Coastal Redwood trees that make up Muir Woods National Monument began growing over 20 million years ago when California was covered by a shallow sea. The average age of a redwood is between 600- 800 years old, with the oldest tree recorded at 1200 years old. They are the tallest of all living things in Muir Woods, reaching up to 258 feet. The further north you go, the ******* the trees, as they can reach up to 379 feet tall (74 times taller than the Statue of Liberty).

The redwoods play an important role in carbon, nutrient, and water cycling in the Muir Woods. They also help to support plant and animal life (e.g., slugs,white-tailed deer, salmon, bobcats, etc.) in these areas.

While we love to see redwoods healthy and alive, ***** trees also play an important role in the forest. Fallen

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help keep the soil moist by soaking up rainwater, releasing nutrients into the soil, creating fertile soil for young seedlings, and providing shelter for insects, amphibians, and mammals.

There is also an important relationship between the trees and Redwood Creek, one of California’s rare, free-flowing rivers. The redwoods depend on the creek for most of their water, and the trees reciprocate by keeping the gravel in the creek clean by stabilizing the soil. The redwoods also help maintain the temperature of the rivers. ***** trees that fall into Redwood Creek create pools and enrich the stream with nutrients. Notably, because the creek is surrounded by an undisturbed forest, constant clean water and cool temperatures, it is the perfect habitat for salmon. It is one of the last streams in California to have a native stock of salmon still.

Redwood trees also have a superpower in that they are ***** resistant. Their thick and fibrous bark is infused with a chemical called tannic acid, which keeps them safe from fires. If the trees are harmed by *****, they can resprout from burl tissue. This is hopeful in light of all the severe forest fires California has seen over the years as a response to climate change. However, the wildlife species that live in these redwoods are not immune to fires, and we must continue to work to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The natural beauty of the Muir Wood National Monument would be nowhere without the Coast Miwok people, who were the first stewards of the land. Although there is a heavy history of having their land taken away and the trees chopped down for human gain, Indigenous tribes have worked tirelessly with the

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Service to get the Muir Woods back to its natural state. An honourable mention also goes to John Muir, the park’s naturalist and conservationist who was famous for creating Yosemite National Park and worked tirelessly to increase awareness about the potential destruction of wildness in the ******* States.

It’s important that we visit these natural wonders and walk away knowing that we have a role to play in protecting them. Reducing our carbon footprint, voting for people who put the environment first, and encouraging and participating in environmental activism are ways we can help protect nature so that future generations have the opportunity to experience these wonders.

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