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History
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Giant Forest Market area with cars lined up at the
gas station.
© NPS photo.
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The Impact of Science
In the 1920s, Emilio Meinecke put considerable effort into understanding the
human impact on the big trees. Generally speaking, however, the application
of scientific research to Giant Forest management increased sluggishly during
the mid-1900s. During these years, landscape architects directed most land-
use planning. The science of ecology was in its infancy. While modern
landscape architecture is grounded in the science of ecology, the early
application of landscape architecture was more geared toward swift, visually
appealing results that were appropriate to parks managed for the enjoyment of
people. As the 1900s progressed, natural sciences gained importance and
played an increasingly significant role in park policy decisions. This was to
have a profound effect on park management and the Giant Forest.
In the decade beginning 1954, the National Park Service effected a dramatic
change in land management policy, especially regarding giant sequoia
groves. These changes were directly influenced by the results of three
scientific studies. In 1954, the Yosemite Report, commissioned by the
Yosemite superintendent, concluded that human impacts were harming the
roots of sequoias in the Mariposa and Tuolumne groves. The report recommended
removal of development.
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Human presence altered the grove in numerous
ways.
© NPS photo. |
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In 1962 and 1965 Richard Hartesveldt submitted a pair of influential reports
to the National Park Service. In these reports, Hartesveldt concluded
that humans were adversely affecting the sequoias of the Mariposa Grove
in Yosemite National Park and the Giant Forest Grove in Sequoia National
Park, but in ways not previously suspected. Hartesveldt found that altered
hydrology in the Mariposa Grove and increasingly dense competing vegetation
in the absence of natural fire in both groves were causing the most
severe impacts to sequoias. Impacts of development on sequoias were
most damaging where major roots had been cut for road construction.
Although Hartesveldt did not find other results of development - covering
of roots by asphalt, soil compaction, or soil erosion - to cause profound
impacts to sequoia survival or growth, he suggested that their probable
effects on future sequoia health warranted action by the National Park
Service.
In 1963 came the Leopold Report, which had an enormous influence on
science in the parks, from both research and management standpoints.
The Leopold Report was the product of an advisory panel headed by Dr.
Starker Leopold, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. In essence,
the report called for maintenance or restoration of natural systems
to the greatest extent possible. This had direct implications for the
Giant Forest, which was specifically mentioned in the report. The Secretary
of the Interior issued an order that the report's recommendations be
followed. This gave tremendous backing to the movement to restore the
Giant Forest. Additionally, the report resulted in the establishment
or expansion of numerous park research programs.
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