Latest news with #SequoiaNationalPark
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fast Company
Managers rethink ecological scenarios as threats rise amid climate change
In Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California, trees that have persisted through rain and shine for thousands of years are now facing multiple threats triggered by a changing climate. Scientists and park managers once thought giant sequoia forests were nearly impervious to stressors like wildfire, drought and pests. Yet, even very large trees are proving vulnerable, particularly when those stressors are amplified by rising temperatures and increasing weather extremes. The rapid pace of climate change—combined with threats like the spread of invasive species and diseases—can affect ecosystems in ways that defy expectations based on past experiences. As a result, Western forests are transitioning to grasslands or shrublands after unprecedented wildfires. Woody plants are expanding into coastal wetlands. Coral reefs are being lost entirely. To protect these places, which are valued for their natural beauty and the benefits they provide for recreation, clean water and wildlife, forest and land managers increasingly must anticipate risks they have never seen before. And they must prepare for what those risks will mean for stewardship as ecosystems rapidly transform. As ecologists and a climate scientist, we're helping them figure out how to do that. Managing changing ecosystems Traditional management approaches focus on maintaining or restoring how ecosystems looked and functioned historically. However, that doesn't always work when ecosystems are subjected to new and rapidly shifting conditions. Ecosystems have many moving parts—plants, animals, fungi, and microbes; and the soil, air and water in which they live—that interact with one another in complex ways. When the climate changes, it's like shifting the ground on which everything rests. The results can undermine the integrity of the system, leading to ecological changes that are hard to predict. To plan for an uncertain future, natural resource managers need to consider many different ways changes in climate and ecosystems could affect their landscapes. Essentially, what scenarios are possible? Preparing for multiple possibilities At Sequoia and Kings Canyon, park managers were aware that climate change posed some big risks to the iconic trees under their care. More than a decade ago, they undertook a major effort to explore different scenarios that could play out in the future. It's a good thing they did, because some of the more extreme possibilities they imagined happened sooner than expected. In 2014, drought in California caused the giant sequoias' foliage to die back, something never documented before. In 2017, sequoia trees began dying from insect damage. And, in 2020 and 2021, fires burned through sequoia groves, killing thousands of ancient trees. While these extreme events came as a surprise to many people, thinking through the possibilities ahead of time meant the park managers had already begun to take steps that proved beneficial. One example was prioritizing prescribed burns to remove undergrowth that could fuel hotter, more destructive fires. The key to effective planning is a thoughtful consideration of a suite of strategies that are likely to succeed in the face of many different changes in climates and ecosystems. That involves thinking through wide-ranging potential outcomes to see how different strategies might fare under each scenario—including preparing for catastrophic possibilities, even those considered unlikely. For example, prescribed burning may reduce risks from both catastrophic wildfire and drought by reducing the density of plant growth, whereas suppressing all fires could increase those risks in the long run. Strategies undertaken today have consequences for decades to come. Managers need to have confidence that they are making good investments when they put limited resources toward actions like forest thinning, invasive species control, buying seeds or replanting trees. Scenarios can help inform those investment choices. Constructing credible scenarios of ecological change to inform this type of planning requires considering the most important unknowns. Scenarios look not only at how the climate could change, but also how complex ecosystems could react and what surprises might lay beyond the horizon. Key ingredients for crafting ecological scenarios To provide some guidance to people tasked with managing these landscapes, we brought together a group of experts in ecology, climate science, and natural resource management from across universities and government agencies. We identified three key ingredients for constructing credible ecological scenarios: 1. Embracing ecological uncertainty: Instead of banking on one 'most likely' outcome for ecosystems in a changing climate, managers can better prepare by mapping out multiple possibilities. In Nebraska's Sandhills, we are exploring how this mostly intact native prairie could transform, with outcomes as divergent as woodlands and open dunes. 2. Thinking in trajectories: It's helpful to consider not just the outcomes, but also the potential pathways for getting there. Will ecological changes unfold gradually or all at once? By envisioning different pathways through which ecosystems might respond to climate change and other stressors, natural resource managers can identify critical moments where specific actions, such as removing tree seedlings encroaching into grasslands, can steer ecosystems toward a more desirable future. 3. Preparing for surprises: Planning for rare disasters or sudden species collapses helps managers respond nimbly when the unexpected strikes, such as a severe drought leading to widespread erosion. Being prepared for abrupt changes and having contingency plans can mean the difference between quickly helping an ecosystem recover and losing it entirely. Over the past decade, access to climate model projections through easy-to-use websites has revolutionized resource managers' ability to explore different scenarios of how the local climate might change. What managers are missing today is similar access to ecological model projections and tools that can help them anticipate possible changes in ecosystems. To bridge this gap, we believe the scientific community should prioritize developing ecological projections and decision-support tools that can empower managers to plan for ecological uncertainty with greater confidence and foresight.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Crystal Cave as it reopens at Sequoia National Park for this season
Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories. After a four-year closure due to natural disasters, Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park reopened to the public this weekend in time for Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer. Crystal Cave is located near the Giant Forest area and has been one of the most popular visitor destinations in the park since it opened for public tours in 1940. Since the announcement earlier this year that the cave was reopening for the 2025 season, 'the response from the public has been overwhelming,' said Nicole Stivers, marketing and communications director for Sequoia Parks Conservancy. 'It's a beautiful reminder of how people value these experiences in our national parks,' Stivers said. For people in the Central Valley, Crystal Cave has been just more than a tour or a rite of passage. 'It's a portal to something extraordinary,' Stiver said. 'A hidden world beneath the forest floor with cool air, sparkling formations and fairy pools.' Guided tours tickets for the first several weeks of the 2025 season — which runs from May 23 to Sept. 7 — are sold out, Stivers said. She said one-third of the entire season has been sold as of May 22. Tours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and can be booked online only. Tickets will not be available for purchase onsite. Before its closure due to wildfires, floods and other nature incidents, an average of 51,000 people visited the cave each summer, according to the conservancy. Clay Jordan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks superintendent, said the reopening of Crystal Cave is not only a milestone but a big step toward recovering from 'the most unprecedented national disasters in the park's 135 years history.' For example, the road and infrastructure leading to Crystal Cave were greatly impacted by the KNP Complex wildfire in 2021, and again during the severe winter storms in 2022 and 2023, which created unsafe conditions for visitors. The cave closed in 2020 due to COVID and was affected by the Castle Fire that year, as well. While the cave reopened for the 2021 season with limitations due to COVID mitigations, the season was cut short because the KNP Complex fire left 'a much more catastrophic impact to the park's infrastructure,' Jordan said. According to Jordan several projects over the last three to four years helped restore access, including power line replacement, road stabilization, and clearing hazardous trees along Crystal Cave Road. About 4,800 hazard trees have been removed along the route to the cave. 'Although we are still under construction, we are happy that we could get this open at the earlier possible time in order to restore access for people to be able to experience (Crystal Cave,' Jordan said. As crew continue to remove felled hazard trees along the roadway, visitors to the cave can expect traffic delays throughout the 2025 season. Road construction and other projects are expected to continue after the season ends. The reopening of the cave is 'a celebration of resilience and the deep love so many people have for this National Park and this place,' Stiver said. 'This moment in time, has been a labor of love to get here,' said Savannah Boiano, executive director of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. Boiano called the reopening a 'historic moment' that represents the next chapter in the legacy of the national park. 'Crystal Cave is not only a source of inspiration to visitors. It's a place where they become active participants in conservation and stewardship,' said Boiano. 'We're not just restoring access today, we're ensuring the sustainability of this ecosystem for future generations.' According to Boiano, more than 450 visitors a day will be able to experience the cave this season. The cave is operated by Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks that manages the park stores inside the visitor centers. The conservancy has served as the tour operator for Crystal Cave since 1982. Is This Tour Right for You? Crystal Cave does require physical exertion. It may not be suitable for everyone. The cave trail is a challenging and steep hike. Visitors with claustrophobia, heart/respiratory conditions, or recent surgery should reconsider the tour. Young children must be able to walk on their own (no strollers or baby backpacks allowed). All visitors assume the risk for personal injury and property loss. The park is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Trip Preparation Checklist Tour duration: 2 hours total Hike: 1⁄2-mile round trip with steep terrain and stairs Inside the Cave: Cold (50°F), damp, and dark Before You Go Crystal Cave tour ticket does not include park entry fee. Buy your park pass in advance at Fuel up. There's no gas in the parks. Stay hydrated. Bring your own water — none is available at the cave. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes. The trail and cave can be slippery. No pets. They're not allowed on trails, in the cave, or left in vehicles. Dress in layers. It's cool in the cave, even if hot outside. Flashlights and sunscreen are optional. Getting There Crystal Cave is near Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. Drive with care. The area was heavily impacted by wildfire and storms. Restoration is ongoing. The cave road closes 1 hour after the final tour. Check-In Process Arrive 15 minutes early with your confirmation email or QR code. Restrooms are in the parking lot (none on the trail or in the cave). Leave bags and hiking sticks behind before entering the cave. Photography is allowed, but no flash, tripods, or selfie sticks. Before entering, you'll step in a solution to protect bats from White-nose Syndrome. The Trail 15–20 minute hike to cave entrance. Steep, paved trail with stairs — not wheelchair accessible. Watch out for poison oak, bees, rattlesnakes, and falling rocks.
