Alder Creek, the world’s largest giant sequoia forest has finally become a protected area thanks to crowdfunding. An environmental group has managed to conclude a $ 15.65 million agreement to purchase the ancient and endangered forest thanks to donations from around the world.

These trees can live up to 3 thousand years and can be as tall as the Statue of Liberty. Alder Creek covers 530 acres and contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoia, 483 of which have a diameter of six feet or larger, including the Stagg Tree, the fifth-largest tree known in the world.

“Giant sequoia are among the largest and among the oldest living things and grow nowhere else in the world outside of the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada. With the purchase of Alder Creek, we have protected the best of what’s left,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League.

Negotiations had been going on for years, but finally the Save the Redwoods League signed the purchase agreement with the Rouch family, owners of the forest since the 1940s. The extraordinary thing is that the 15 million dollars requested were donations from over 8500 donors from the U.S.A. and beyond.

“We are amazed by and grateful for the generosity of people from all over the world who stepped up to help save this special forest. At a moment when good news is hard to find, we are thrilled to begin the new year celebrating the generosity and sense of stewardship reflected in this successful effort.”

Source: Save the Redwoods