In Brief...
Aune, Philip S., technical coordinator. 1994. Proceedings
of the symposium on Giant Sequoias: their place in
the ecosystem and society; June 23-25, 1992; Visalia,
CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-151. Albany, CA:
Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture; 170 p.
Retrieval Terms: big trees, Giant Sequoia, Giant Sequoia
management, Sequoia
These proceedings contain 28 papers presented at a
symposium on "Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum),
Their Place in the Ecosystem and Society." The objective of
this symposium was to provide the state of knowledge on
Giant Sequoia by blending the results of research with human
values and perceptions while reviewing agency policies and
management directions. The symposium featured field trips
to Sequoia National Forest, Mountain Home State Forest,
and Sequoia National Park to allow participants to observe
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-151. 1994.
first hand one of the three agency management strategies for
Giant Sequoia. These field trips greatly enhanced the subjects
and presentations offered during the formal presentations.
The symposium was structured around the following
general topics:
•Natural values, public values, and public perceptions; •Genetic characteristics and ecological considerations;
•Giant Sequoia in a disturbance-driven environment; •Management strategies;
•Influences on grove development; •Native values and public agency management strategies;
•Reflections on management strategies;
•Views from agency leadership.
The results of this symposium can be used to address
conservation and long-term strategies for sustaining the largest
of all trees and the wonderful groves people have valued
ever since they were first viewed by humans.
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Preface
The Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is known
worldwide as an awe-inspiring species of immense size,
longevity, and attractive silhouette. The species spans a
spectrum of values including natural beauty, ecological and
scientific significance, adaptability for ornamental and
horticultural use, and excellent wood properties. This grace­
ful tree is found in groves in National Forests, national
parks, state parks and forests, and other public and private
lands in the Sierra Nevada range of California. Because of the
unique range of values and adaptability of the species, Giant
Sequoia has been planted beyond its native range successfully
in northern and southern California, Oregon, New Zealand,
and Europe. Thus the future of the species is of national and
international concern.
Because of this "awe-inspiring" nature, Giant Sequoia
has also developed as a focal point for many "awe-inspiring"
debates over the proper care, use, and management of this
magnificent species. Such was the case in 1991, when
Congressional field hearings were held concerning the latest
in a long line of intense debate over the management of giant
sequoias. United States Forest Service Regional Forester
Ronald E. Stewart suggested during his testimony at the field
hearings that a formal symposium of researchers,
managers, private interests, non-governmental organizations
and interested citizens be conducted to establish the state of
the art and science in managing and sustaining this internationally valuable species. Thus was the genesis of this
symposium.
Approximately 200 researchers, managers, representa­
tives, and individuals attended the symposium in Visalia,
California. The symposium was divided into two days of
technical presentations, with a field trip for participants in the
middle. The two days of technical presentations were struc­
tured around major topics selected by a Steering Committee of
agency, university, and non-governmental organizations. Each of
the technical sessions was hosted by a moderator and
included the following topics:
• Natural values, public values, and public perceptions
(moderator-Bob Jasperson, Save-the-Redwoods
League);
• Genetic characteristics and ecological considerations
(moderator-Bill Libby, University of California,
Berkeley),
• Giant sequoia in a disturbance-driven environment
(moderator-Dave Parsons, Sequoia National Park);
• Management strategies (moderator-Joseph Fontaine,
Sierra Club);
• Influences on grove development (moderator-Julie
Allen, Sequoia National Forest);
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• Native values and public agency management
strategies (moderator-Janet Wold, Stanislaus National
Forest);
• Reflections on management strategies (moderatorKen Delfino, California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection);
• Symposium Results: Views from agency leadership
(moderator-Phil Aune, Pacific Southwest Research
Station).
In addition to the technical sessions, the symposium
featured a keynote address by Douglas Leisz, retired Associate
Chief of the USDA Forest Service; an evening address on
Giant Sequoia in Europe presented by Professor Dr. Wolfgang
Knigge of the University of Göttingen, Germany; and an
excellent dramatic interpretation of John Muir: Giant Sequoia
in the Sierra Nevada by Lee Stetson. Other features included
a wide-ranging poster session and closeout with audience
responses on what the future should be.
Participants were provided a field experience in the
middle of the symposium. They chose from one of the
following three tours:
Tour 1. Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks
managed by the National Park Service. Participants exam­
ined post-disturbance phenomena in Big Stump Basin and
fire and climatic history. They also discussed Park Service
prescribed fire programs in Giant Forest as well as overall
Giant Sequoia management strategies and philosophy.
Tour 2. Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest,
managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection. Participants examined recreation impacts on Giant
Sequoia groves, Giant Sequoia intensive management strat­
egies, and the Department's grove management philosophy.
Tour 3. Sequoia National Forest Black Mountain Grove
managed by the USDA Forest Service. Participants looked at
the sites of highly controversial timber harvesting con­
ducted in the mid 1980's and areas where timber was
harvested in Giant Sequoia groves over 20 years ago. Regrowth
of Giant Sequoia and other species on these sites will allow
visitors to examine vegetation changes over time after logging.
Acknowledgments
We are especially grateful for the organizational role
provided by the Extension Services of the University of
California, Davis under the leadership of Dr. Dennis Pendleton.
Dr. Pendleton and Debbie Roberts of his staff provided the
overall leadership to make the symposium a great success.
Thanks to all the authors during the long process of providing
your manuscripts, editing and final completion. My personal
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-151. 1994.
thanks also go out to our editors and publication staff at the
Pacific Southwest Research Station under the direction of
Vincent Y. Dong with excellent editing provided by Sandy
Young and Laurie Dunn and publication support provided by
Kathryn Stewart and Esther Kerkmann.
Initial financial support was enthusiastically provided
by the Regional Office of the USDA Forest Service. Without
this support, this symposium would not have occurred. We
are also grateful for our other contributors whose support
and commitment of personnel and finances made the sym­
posium a success. The contributors included: California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Save-the-Redwoods
League, USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDI National
Park Service, National Audubon Society, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Tule River Tribal Council, and the Pacific Southwest Research Station of the USDA Forest Service.
Assisting the symposium organizers were invaluable
sponsors who graciously extended their offices to support
the symposium. Included in our thanks are: Bureau of
Indian Affairs; USDI Bureau of Land Management; California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; California
Department of Parks and Recreation; Natural Resources
Management Department, California Polytechnic State Uni­
versity; National Audubon Society; National Park Service;
Northern California Society of American Foresters; Savethe-Redwoods League; Tule River Tribal Council; University
of California Department of Forestry and Resource
Management; University Extension, University of California,
Davis; and the USDA Forest Service.
A Final Note
These proceedings mirror the symposium and contain a
mixture of high quality research papers, excellent manage­
ment papers, personal observations, and opinions. Readers
are encouraged to keep in mind that our overall objective
was to develop a state of the science and art of managing and
sustaining the Giant Sequoia resource. One inescapable
conclusion is that achieving the long-term sustainability of
Giant Sequoia will take some form of active management
rather than a passive legislative solution. Active manage­
ment is necessary to perpetuate and sustain the species, the
groves, and the incredible biological diversity represented
by the species and its environment.
Philip S. Aune
Technical Coordinator
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-151. 1994.
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