Project overview: Protect Tuolumne Meadows by removing encroaching trees to preserve the views, cultural landscape, and overall experience and health of the meadows. 

How your support helps: There are many ways to experience Tuolumne Meadows: gazing across toward the high peaks, fishing or swimming in the river, going to Parsons Memorial Lodge, strolling through the meadow, and listening to the birds. But there is no experience without the actual meadow. And the trees that are encroaching into Tuolumne Meadows could permanently alter this special place. 

As the trees grow, the meadows, the views, the cultural landscape — and all that compose the Tuolumne Meadows experience — shrink. With your support, these trees will be removed by crews from the Mono band of Paiute Indians to preserve and restore the historical scenic views visitors have come to expect and appreciate. 

A similar Conservancy-funded project was completed in 2007 and 2008 to remove trees from the meadows. That project also determined the ages of trees and evaluated the impacts of the road on meadow hydrology, which were found to be minimal. 

This year: In 2024, crews will oversee the removal of conifers that are growing in selected areas throughout Tuolumne. These will then be chipped and dried offsite and converted into biochar, a carbon negative material that will restore carbon lost from removing the trees.

Project partners: Yosemite National Park, Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS)

Project Notes

"Trees are growing into Tuolumne Meadows. As the trees grow, the meadows, the views, the cultural landscape, and the Tuolumne Meadows visitor experience shrink. The meadows are the essence of the place and once lost, the place is lost. This project removes the trees growing in the meadows."