The Redwood Forest: History, Ecology, and Conservation of the Coast Redwoods

Evidence is mounting that redwood forests, like many other ecosystems, cannot survive as small, isolated fragments in human-altered landscapes. Such fragments lose their diversity over time and, in the case of redwoods, may even lose the ability to grow new, giant trees.The Redwood Forest, written in support of Save-the-Redwood League's master plan, provides scientific guidance for saving the redwood forest by bringing together in a single volume the latest insights from conservation biology along with new information from data-gathering techniques such as GIS and remote sensing. It presents the most current findings on the geologic and cultural history, natural history, ecology, management, and conservation of the flora and fauna of the redwood ecosystem. Leading experts -- including Todd Dawson, Bill Libby, John Sawyer, Steve Sillett, Dale Thornburgh, Hartwell Welch, and many others -- offer a comprehensive account of the redwoods ecosystem, with specific chapters examining:the history of the redwood lineage, from the Triassic Period to the present, along with the recent history of redwoods conservation; life history, architecture, genetics, environmental relations, and disturbance regimes of redwoods; terrestrial flora and fauna, communities, and ecosystems; aquatic ecosystems; landscape-scale conservation planning; management alternatives relating to forestry, restoration, and recreation.