Introduction: Native Trees of the Gualala River Watershed

INTRODUCTION TO A NEW FEATURE:

NATIVE TREES OF THE GUALALA RIVER WATERSHED

January, 2018

Trees are the predominant terrestrial feature of the Gualala River watershed. They account for the largest biomass in the watershed and cover a third of its nearly 300 square miles.

How we think about them–their beauty, their importance to the natural systems of the planet, and their economic value–is critical to whether we find ways to protect them and ensure their continued existence, especially on a warming planet.

As the new year unfolds, Friends of Gualala River is introducing a new feature in which we describe some of the more than 3 dozen native species of trees that grow in our watershed. With this feature we hope to expand awareness of the individual qualities of these tree species, make them easier for you to find and identify, and explore the role that they play in the natural world around us.