While low to moderate severity fire is integral to giant sequoia ecology, recent high severity wildfires pose an extreme and poorly understood risk to giant sequoia groves

In the 2021 KNP complex fire, an estimated 616 acres of giant sequoia groves in burned at high severity, and extremely limited regeneration has been observed in multiple burned groves. This raises the possibility that the environment in large burn scars of extreme fires may either receive insufficient seeds to regenerate or be inhospitable for natural seedlings, or both. This project will explore whether the microclimate in large, high severity burn scars is inhospitable to giant sequoia regeneration and identify how biological (e.g. seed source) and biophysical (microclimate) factors determine whether seedlings cross physiological stress thresholds that lead to mortality. Understanding the ecophysiological limits to giant sequoia regeneration is critical to predicting where and when post-fire regeneration will fail and how to restore areas where natural regeneration is insufficient to regenerate burned groves. The public purpose of this agreement is to increase knowledge among the broad research community regarding sequoia regeneration and drivers of regeneration success and regeneration failure. Additionally, IT is to support and stimulate research in understanding sequoia regeneration which likely varies across the landscape, and which is very understudied. Additionally, if opportunities and funding become available, this work could be extended to greater understanding of mixed conifer regeneration in and around sequoia groves. The agreement will support the research itself but also dissemination of findings in scientific journals and at conferences and meeting. The scientific community and or researchers external to NPS gain by new knowledge provided through research and related results dissemination of natural resources information. The project also assists in the creation, promotion, facilitation, and or improvement of the publics understanding of giant sequoia ecology because information learned through this project will be incorporated into park programming for visitors as well as web content and wayside signage.