Sequoia ForestKeeper has four integrated programs that are all designed to help protect the forest from the ravages of human consumption.

Protecting the Monument

The primary goal of the Protect the Monument Campaign is to ensure that logging and other activities that could negatively impact the Giant Sequoia National Monument are prohibited and that the Monument is truly protected as intended by the Monument Proclamation.

Environmental Outreach Program

The Kern Valley is desperate for healthy, non-consumptive enrichment activities for both children and adults. With so many people in our community living in poverty the area lacks activities that enrich the imagination and foster creativity without damaging the environment. We also get students involved in volunteer projects to help them become proactive citizens through hands-on involvement. We have trail work parties on our adopted Unal Trail and help visitors interpret the plants and animals of the area. Join us for our free walks on Wednesdays at noon to local wildflower hotspots in spring. Watch our Facebook page and twitter site for details.  
Interns and volunteers conduct intensive forest monitoring to obtain conclusive evidence about the consequences of Forest Service over-management on the forest ecosystems and the conditions of the unmanaged forest.

GIS Analysis Program

The purpose of our GIS Forest Health Analysis Program is to create a spatial analysis of the entire Sequoia National Forest, including the Giant Sequoia National Monument and the wilderness areas surrounding it, which will take a holistic view of forest health by analyzing how various management techniques (i.e. clear-cutting, fuels reduction, meadow restoration, etc.) have affected forest health. To do so, we will use the Forest Service’s own data to create map layers including past logging history, fire frequency and intensity, wildlife habitat, watershed health, and more. We then create layers using our own data gathered by SFK staff, volunteers, and interns, to get a full view of forest health, which includes the long- and short-term effects of forest management techniques. By comparing previously managed areas with untouched wilderness, we should get an accurate assessment of what management techniques create the healthiest forest conditions.