Dear John,
The past few weeks have brought a flurry of executive orders, federal funding freezes, and policy shifts that could alter the future of our shared public lands, including our treasured redwood forests.
In this time of rapid change and uncertainty, one thing is clear: Save the Redwoods League remains committed to protecting these irreplaceable landscapes, advocating for outdoor access for all, and ensuring that redwood forests continue to provide clean water, wildlife habitat, climate resilience, and community well-being for generations to come. Standing firm in our commitments, we will navigate uncertainty with focus and continue to engage our full community in our ambitious conservation vision.
The League is closely monitoring threats to critical projects and trusted partners to determine the actual risk and necessary response. Key issues on our watch list include:
— Preserving the Antiquities Act: Maintaining the Antiquities Act as it currently exists while preserving all of its achievements to date. Since its passage in 1906, the Antiquities Act has safeguarded iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument.
— Honoring federal commitments: Ensuring that existing federal grants, contracts, and funding commitments—including those made to Tribal partners—are upheld to support land stewardship and conservation.
— Maintaining a strong federal workforce: Mitigating uncertainty for federal employees whose work on the ground is essential to redwood forest restoration, land management, and the visitor experience in our treasured national parks and public lands.
Most pressingly, we are tracking threats to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (GAOA LRF). These federal programs have played a vital role in protecting redwood forests and are essential to ongoing conservation projects.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a cornerstone of U.S. conservation efforts. Backed by offshore energy receipts, it funds land protection, public access, and outdoor recreation without using taxpayer dollars. The LWCF has funded transformative League projects such as the protection of Lost Coast Redwoods [[link removed]] , acquisitions that expanded Redwood National and State Parks, and the addition of groves to Giant Sequoia National Monument.
The GAOA LRF provides crucial investments in infrastructure and the maintenance of our national parks and public lands. The program supports the League’s Redwoods Rising [[link removed]] initiative to provide critical forest restoration within Redwood National and State Parks.
The Great American Outdoors Act also guarantees permanent federal funding for the LWCF, reinforcing a longstanding bipartisan commitment to protecting public lands. Any pause in this funding would undermine this commitment, jeopardizing land conservation, park development, and outdoor access nationwide. It would also threaten local economies, rural jobs, and the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation industry, which currently supports 5 million jobs and countless communities.
With so much at stake, the League is carefully tracking these issues and assessing impacts to forest conservation and public access. In the weeks ahead, we will be calling on you and our broader community to speak up in support of these critical resources and funding commitments.
With the unwavering support of our community and strong partnerships, we are prepared to navigate these challenges. Together, we will ensure that redwood forests continue to thrive for the benefit of all.
With gratitude,
Sam Hodder
President and CEO
Save the Redwoods League
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Save the Redwoods League
111 Sutter Street, 11th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
United States
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