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THE REDWOODS NATIONAL PARK 
Over 40 million years ago, when dinosaurs ruled this planet, giant California redwood 
trees (Sequoia sempervirens,or coastal redwood) towered over their living space, The 
mammoth reptiles, unable to adjust to environmental changes, faded from the earth, but the 
Sequoia family endured. The story is an epic of tenacity and adaptability. Today there 
are redwoods standing which were seedlings 1000 years before the birth of Christ. These 
trees spread around the northern hemisphere, across China and into Europe, As man spread 
his wanton destruction over the land, the seemingly endless forests dwindled until 100 ! 
years ago there were only 2,000,000 acres left. Today only 300,000 acres of original 
growth remain, all in California. | 
Impervious to disease and old age, the redwood's only enemies are violent natural disastersaa 
and man. Two men and a power saw can overthrow in three hours the patient work of 30 | 
centuries. At the present time, only 50,000 of the 300,000 acres of virgin timber are 
"protected" in several scattered state parks; the rest are owned by lumbering companies, } 
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Recognizing the urgency of the situation, President Johnson, with full support from 
Governor Brown, of California, has requested the establishment of a Redwoods National Park. 
The Park would inclwe 20,000 additional acres of virgin timber, thus setting aside a total | 
of 70,000 acres, The President's proposal would also offer Federal aid to California for : 
the purpose of adding more redwood groves to existing state parks. | 
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An additional complication is a current controversy concerning the future course of a free- 
way already under construction. Under California law, the State Division of Highways and 
Highway Commission may build roads through parklands under the power of eminent domain 
(hence the redwood is not completely protected even in state parks!). The highway already ! 
cuts through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, amd now threatens several others. However, the 
| State Division of Beaches and Parks, along with the Save-the-Redwoods League and others, ) 
have urged a route which would by-pass the park to the east. Even at extra cost, this is | 
a small enough price to pay for the irreplaceable scenic values. 
What is needed is not small, inadequately protected groves, such as now exist, but a 
| Redwoods National Park of great enough extent so that the trees can survive, for in order 
fi to live these unique trees mst have space commensurate with their size, It must be 
remembered that the redwoods, for all their impressive strength and height, balance on 
platforms of shallow root systems. The wind tunnel created by a freeway cut through the 
, middle of a forest, and the complete devastation of a hilltop (thereby unleashing the 
forces of erosion), easily tears down and undermines the exposed trees, Their destruction 
in turn lays bare others, establishing a domino-like thrust of deforestation, 
Enlightened highway planning and the addition of President Johnson's proposed National 
Redwoods Park can help assure that future generations will have the esthetic and scientific 
benefits of these majestic trees--all that remain of an ancient and widespread forest. 
These California trees are important to YOU. We are a nation of travelers. In many ways 
it is becoming more possible for every one of us to stand some day within this awesome 
cathedral and find the peace and serenity offered there. 
You have just received (or will soon receive) a postcard showing the Avenue-of-the-Giants, 
part of which may soon be lost, Use it in support of President Johnson's proposed Redwoods | 
National Park, Send it to someone who, once alerted, will raise another voice in behalf o | 
these magnificent trees, Send it to your congressman, urging his support, But USE ITS | 


Darlene Fiske - IAS Director 
