Reason for Hope: Fire-Stricken Redwoods Recover Sprouting 1000-Year-Old Buds

In the face of adversity, a glimmer of hope emerges as fire-stricken redwoods defy the odds, showcasing a remarkable recovery by sprouting buds that have been dormant for over a millennium.

In 2020, a devastating fire ravaged California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park, destroying much of the ancient forest that had been home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth. The coastal redwoods, which can live for more than 2000 years and reach heights of over 300 feet, were left with charred trunks and no foliage. Many feared that this was the end of these majestic giants.

However, a new study published in Nature Plants reveals that the redwoods have a remarkable ability to recover from fire damage by activating dormant buds that are hidden within their bark. These buds can sprout new branches and leaves using energy that was stored in the tree up to 21 years before the fire. Some of these buds may be as old as 1000 years, dating back to when the tree was still young.

The researchers, led by Drew Peltier from the University of California, Davis, wrapped 60 burned redwood trunks in black plastic to prevent them from photosynthesizing new light. They then monitored the sprouting activity of the trees for six months. They found that most of the trees produced new sprouts from their bark, even though they had lost their entire canopy in the fire. The sprouts were small compared to the original branches, but they showed that the trees were still alive and resilient.

To determine how old the energy used by the sprouts was, the researchers measured the radiocarbon content of the sugars and starches in the bark. Radiocarbon is a radioactive isotope of carbon that decays over time and can be used to date organic materials. The researchers found that the energy used by the sprouts ranged from less than one year to 21 years old, with an average of seven years. This means that the trees had been storing energy for a long time, and were able to use it when they needed it most.

The researchers also analyzed the genetic origin of the buds that produced the sprouts. They found that most of them came from adventitious meristems, which are underground or above-ground clusters of cells that can form new buds in response to stress or injury. These meristems are present in the bark of redwoods since they are young, and can remain dormant for centuries until they are activated by fire or other factors.

The study shows that coastal redwoods have an amazing capacity to survive and adapt to fire, which is a natural and frequent occurrence in their habitat. However, the researchers caution that this does not mean that the trees are immune to climate change and human activities, which may increase the frequency and intensity of fires beyond their historical range. The sprouts are also vulnerable to drought, pests, and diseases, and may not be able to grow into a full canopy without sufficient water and nutrients.

The researchers hope that their findings will help inform conservation efforts and management practices for these iconic trees, which provide many ecological and cultural benefits. They also hope that their study will inspire awe and respect for these ancient organisms, which have witnessed centuries of history and have secrets hidden in their bark.

“The fact that the reserves used are so old indicates that they took a long time to build up,” says Susan Trumbore, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry who did not participate in the study. “Redwoods are majestic organisms. One cannot help rooting for those resprouts to keep them alive in decades to come.”

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