Sempervirens Fund began in 1900 as the Semervirens Club. Concerned that the ancient and majestic coast redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, were to be cut down for logging, the original group passed a hat among themselves and collected $32 to bankroll their efforts. Two years later, Big Basin Redwoods State Park was established and is today California’s oldest State Park.

Sempervirens Fund… a reprise

Sixty-six years later on the slopes of Mt. McAbee, the watershed land immediately adjacent to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, developers wanted to clear trees and build a mountain home community on 320 prime redwood acres. The entrance road proposed was to run straight through existing parklands…  With the assistance of Howard King, a noted redwood photographer, and Tony Look, an ardent conservationist, a modern conservation campaign began. The charter of the original Sempervirens Club was renewed and the organization was revitalized with a new name, Sempervirens Fund.

“I saw what happened when they bought trees for a park, but not the watershed. Logging and fires caused erosion below, and trees started falling. Then I saw that development was beginning in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the same thing could happen there.”

Tony Look, founding Executive Director of Sempervirens Fund, 1971

« click to enlarge photo: Old growth redwood marked to be cut for logging 2006

Mission:
To protect and preserve permanently the redwood forests, watersheds and important natural areas
of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and to encourage public appreciation and enjoyment of this environment.

Vision:
A permanently-protected and forested natural area, continuous from Half Moon Bay to Monterey Bay, covering the coastal mountains of San Mateo, San Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

.: Sempervirens Fund :.

More Redwoods, trees and conservation:
Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
Redwood Reproduction: DOIN’ THE NATURAL
Sempervirens Fund
Tony Look BIOGRAPHY » Concervationist & Founding Director of Sempervirens Fund
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE» The Lorax by Dr. Suess