CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 36
Introduced by Assembly Member Fong
|
August 16, 2022 |
Relative to giant sequoias.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 36, as introduced, Fong.
The Save Our Sequoias Act.
This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to enact the Save Our Sequoias Act to provide a comprehensive response to address the imminent threats facing the iconic giant sequoias.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth; and
WHEREAS, Giant sequoias are among the oldest trees, some more than 3,000 years old; and
WHEREAS, Giant sequoias are solely found in roughly 70 groves across 37,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains; and
WHEREAS, Giant sequoias provide significant ecological, scientific, and cultural benefits; and
WHEREAS, Tourism related to visiting giant sequoias is an important source of revenue for many communities near the groves; and
WHEREAS, Giant sequoias are extremely fire-resilient and were once considered virtually indestructible; and
WHEREAS, The last recorded evidence of mass giant sequoia mortality occurred in 1297 A.D., over seven centuries ago; and
WHEREAS, Over a century of fire suppression and mismanagement created a massive buildup of hazardous fuels around and in giant sequoia groves; and
WHEREAS, Over the past three years, wildfires have killed nearly 20 percent of the world’s population of mature giant sequoias; and
WHEREAS, Current wildfires are burning in the State of California, including in Yosemite National Park, that are threatening iconic giant sequoias; and
WHEREAS, At its current pace, it would take the United States Forest Service approximately 52 years to treat just its 19 most at-risk giant sequoia groves; and
WHEREAS, Proactive management of the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest in California by the Department of Forest and Fire Protection has reduced the severity of fires in this forest to help better protect giant sequoias; and
WHEREAS, The bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act, H.R. 8168 of the 117th Congress, provides a comprehensive approach to address the imminent threats facing the iconic giant sequoias; and
WHEREAS, The bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act improves interagency coordination, utilizes robust scientific analysis to triage high-priority giant sequoia groves, and expedites forest restoration projects by codifying and streamlining existing emergency procedures; and
WHEREAS, The bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act will provide land managers with the emergency tools and resources needed to save the remaining giant sequoias and regenerate giant sequoias in groves damaged or destroyed by wildfires; and
WHEREAS, The current generation cannot be the one that allows wildfires to destroy the iconic giant sequoias, denying future generations the opportunity to see these ancient wonders; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature strongly encourages the Congress of the United States to enact the bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act to provide a comprehensive response to address the imminent threats facing the iconic giant sequoias; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative of California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.