During that time the department will consult with Congress and will hold a public hearing. Shortly thereafter the president will make his decision. National monument designation would provide protection for virtually all of the remaining Giant sequoia groves, plus the surrounding ecosystem. Under the proposal, the U.S. Forest Service most likely would continue to manage the lands included in the new national monument. Unlike national forest designation though, national monument status would ensure permanent protection from future logging and other development.
Giant sequoias are a treasured part of our country's heritage and our state's natural resources.
Over 100 years ago Sequoia National Park was created to protect some of these majestic trees. Currently fewer than half of the existing sequoia groves enjoy protection in national parks. The majority of the groves are in Sequoia National Forest, which is managed by the U. S. Forest Service. Unfortunately, the Forest Service still considers logging and road building as its primary goals and neglects its responsibility to protect forest ecosystems. National parks, managed by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior, are designed in large part to protect ecosystems and natural resources.