Protecting the World’s Old Growth Redwood Forests of Northern California

On the morning of October 30, 2007 at Roy's Redwoods Open Space Preserve in Marin County, California, a team of tree climbers from Bartlett Tree Experts ascended several old growth Redwoods, each well over 1,000 years old and some over 150 ft. tall. High up from the top of the canopy, they collected genetic small samples of these Redwoods. The genes from these samples were used to create exact genetic duplicates of these ancient trees, which in the future will be used to re-establish old growth Redwood forests in California.

Tom Fritz, Marmot’s Vice President of Marketing and Jordan Campbell, Marmot’s Public Relations Manager – along with a cast of local and national members of the press – attended this event to capture the story for Marmot to greater understand the timeless and important work of David Milarch and the Champion Tree Project.

In attendance were Dana King and Jeffrey Schaub of Channel 5 KPIX / CBS, Jim Robbins, contributing science writer for The New York Times, various members of the Associated Press and Cécile Cusin, a documentary filmmaker who captured the entire event specifically for Marmot.

“More than 95% of all old growth Redwoods gone, taken from future generations,” explained David Milarch of Traverse City, Michigan where he and his son Jared formed the Champion Tree Project over ten years ago. “With this project we will begin to re-pay our debt of old growth Redwood forests we borrowed from our children and our grandchildren” added David.

The cuttings from the Redwood tree event were taken to Monterey County where the genetic reproductions will be created (reproductions are a standard way of propagating plants, and are a 100 percent copy of the original). In several years, when the trees are 2-3 feet tall, they will be planted in locations (still yet to be determined) throughout California, with soil, minerals, and other material from existing old growth forests, to begin the restoration of Redwood forests.

The trees at Roy's Redwoods Open Space Preserve were already 400 years old when Columbus first discovered America. Cradling more than 25 seedlings that had just been clipped from up high in the Redwood canopy, David Milarch explained, “These Redwood trees are a global icon – we need to do whatever we can to preserve this great natural resource.”