Giant Sequoia & Cone Set Standing as ancient sentinels in Yosemite’s groves, Giant Sequoias are monuments to resilience. Their thick, fibrous bark, sometimes two feet thick, protects them from the very fires that threaten other trees. Far from being a pure destroyer, fire is the Sequoia’s oldest ally—a necessary force that clears the forest floor and prepares the way for new life. The unassuming cone of the Giant Sequoia holds the future of the forest. It can hang closed on a branch for two decades, tightly protecting its seeds. It is waiting for a specific signal: the intense heat of a forest fire. This heat dries the cone, forcing its scales to open and release hundreds of tiny seeds onto the newly cleared, sunlit, and nutrient-rich soil below, ensuring the next generation of giants can take root. Thanks to donors’ support, we provided $20 million to help fund the largest restoration project in Yosemite’s history, which brought ecological balance back to a celebrated giant sequoia grove. Learn more at yosemite.org
