To:  The Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, the Sequoia National Forest Supervisor, and the California Congressional Delegation.

We also call upon the local Congressional Representative for the Sierra Nevada, currently Rep. Kevin Kiley, as a co-sponsor of the Save Our Sequoias Act (H.R. 2709), to champion this urgent cause.

Freeman Creek Grove in the southern Sierra Nevada is one of the last, great strongholds of ancient giant sequoias. These 2,000-year-old trees are living national treasures. Freeman Creek Grove is part of the Giant Sequoia National Monument and is federally designated as a botanical reserve, home to some of the largest and oldest sequoias outside of national parks.

Members of Earth Vow Project recently visited the ancient giants of Freeman Creek Grove, a federally protected botanical area. We witnessed a miracle: many monarch sequoias survived the 2020 SQF Complex / Castle Fire. But today, in 2025, they remain surrounded by charred wood, heavy brush, and dangerous fuel buildup;  a tinderbox waiting for the next fire.

Without intervention, we risk losing these survivors not only to a subsequent blaze but also to the slow, preventable degradation of their ecosystem. Firsthand observations confirm that trespass cattle grazing is already causing this damage—trampling fragile soils and destroying the sequoia seedlings critical for the grove's future.

Unlike nearby groves that have received active protection, little to no work has been done in Freeman Creek since the fire. Lawsuits, limited resources, and management debates have stalled progress. Delay is no excuse for inaction when these ancient giants stand on the brink.

We are not asking for a grand plan or controversial logging. We are asking for the absolute minimum, common-sense action that everyone should agree on:

👉 Phase One Emergency Stabilization at Freeman Creek Grove

Hand Removal of Fine Fuels: Small branches, brush, and dead twigs cleared carefully by trained hand-crews immediately around each monarch sequoia. This work is done entirely by hand: no chainsaws, no heavy machinery, and no removal of large logs or living trees. The goal is to reduce the immediate fire risk while leaving the grove’s ecosystem intact.

Pre-Positioning of Fire Wraps & Gear: Stockpiling fire-resistant protective wraps, hoses, pumps, and other essential firefighting supplies near the grove, so that in the event of a wildfire, firefighters can act quickly to defend these ancient giants. This is a proven method: in 2021, the General Sherman Tree was protected from the KNP Complex Fire with fire-resistant wrapping. This ensures rapid, targeted action without disturbing the grove.

Grazing Enforcement: Immediate enforcement against trespass cattle through increased patrols, temporary fencing, and collaboration with agencies like the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition to prevent further soil compaction and seedling destruction.

This is not logging. This is not commercial. It is basic wildfire hygiene — the lightest-touch protection possible for America’s most precious natural assets. These measures provide immediate safety for trees that have survived millennia, buying critical time while longer-term restoration and planning efforts are developed.

This work buys critical time while larger restoration plans and lawsuits play out. It is a step so reasonable that no side should oppose it.

🌲 Having survived for two millennia, these ancient giants now face a critical moment. Their future hinges on the actions we take today. We must not let this window of opportunity close. Together, we can ensure these global treasures stand for millennia to come.

⚠️ The public will not accept the loss of Freeman Creek’s giants due to bureaucratic paralysis. The U.S. Forest Service must act immediately.

✍️ Sign this petition and demand immediate protection for Freeman Creek Grove before we lose these irreplaceable sequoias forever.