Giant Sequoia

Giant sequoia is the sole living species in the genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three species of coniferous trees known as redwoods, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae, together with coast redwood and dawn redwood. Giant sequoia specimens are the most massive trees on Earth. The common use of the name sequoia usually refers to Sequoiadendron giganteum, which occurs naturally only in groves on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

The giant sequoia is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN, with fewer than 80,000 trees remaining. Since its last assessment as an endangered species in 2011, it was estimated that another 10-14% of the population was destroyed (or 7500-10,600 mature trees) during the Castle Fire of 2020 alone - an event attributed to Global Warming. Despite their large size and adaptations to fire, giant sequoias have become severely threatened by a combination of fuel load from fire suppression, which fuels extremely destructive fires that are also boosted by drought and climate change. These conditions have led to the death of many populations in large fires in recent decades. Prescribed burns to reduce available fuel load may be crucial for saving the species.

Plantae
	Deck/File Name: Giant Sequoia (giantsequoia)
	Made/Donated by: Aki / saya	Color: Peru
	Released: 2021-08-14	Masterable: Yes
	Wished by: saya, Gem, Shiranna
	Mastered by: None