Fragile and flammable, Eucalypti have been implicated in worsening wildfires across the world. But there's little consensus over their culpability, value, or future in California's landscape. Defenders and opponents each say that science and history are on their side. — The Guardian
A long-simmering battle over the current and future status of California's Eucalyptus trees is close to bubbling over again, as the increasingly present risk of catastrophic fire events pits Eucalyptus lovers against native plant enthusiasts who would like to see the tinder-producing groves replaced with native plant species.
Susie Cagle has created an insightful illustrated article for The Guardian that highlights the competing arguments for and against Eucalyptus preservation.
3 Comments
This is well stated:
I love all trees, but the eucalyptus is a very stupid tree for a wildfire prone areas. Trees with greater fire resistance like olive trees are imo more symbolic and useful for California anyway. The Eucalyptus is too tall to provide any meaningful shade/spatial definition for residential and street tree application.
Consistent with the comments above, I recommend reading this recent article by Australian Biologist Jeremy Griffith https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/01/the-science-of-bushfires-is-settled-part-2/
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