I have great respect for Stephen Hume's reporting. Urban wildfires are certainly a horrifying possibility, and I appreciate the information he shares with us about it. However, I feel he has left an impression that urban trees are nice and all, but we might be better off without them due to the possibility of wildfires.
It's important to know that California's Sierra Club says a home itself is often “more ignitable than the vegetation surrounding it.” It mentions a common sight after wildfires in urban areas: smoking holes in the ground, where houses once stood -- still surrounded by living, green trees.
They note that well-spaced plant life can actually block wind-blown embers from reaching your home, while a yard completely devoid of vegetation can create a “bowling alley” for embers. Burning embers can float in on the wind from as far as a mile away.
If people are considering cutting down urban trees after reading this article, please first read the Sierra Club's "5 Ways to Protect Your Home from Wildfires". (Link below)
There may also be more to the issue of whether or not urban trees cause drying of other vegetation. Yes, they need water to grow. But they are also known to help retain soil, and water in the soil. Trees also have an effect on regional micro-climates. Well-treed areas may be moister and can have more rainfall.
Let's make well-thought-out decisions about trees. Mature trees are not easily replaced. They take decades to grow. And most importantly, they may well be the key to reducing climate change.
A recent study found that planting trees, and preventing further deforestation, are by far the best climate mitigation tools we have. A lead researcher said, "I thought restoration would be in the top 10, but it is overwhelmingly more powerful than all of the other climate change solutions proposed.”
Last year, the UN's International Panel on Climate Change warned that we have only 10 to 12 years (now 9 to 11) to make drastic changes, in order to prevent catastrophe.
Wildfires are a possibility, and we should do all we can to protect ourselves. But the climate crisis is here now. It is more important than ever before to preserve and protect every tree we can, and to plant many more.
Sincerely,
Grace Golightly
The Sierra Club's '5 Ways to Protect Your Home From Wildfires'
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Not your grandpa's wildfires
in Focus Magazine July/August 2019
Posted
I have great respect for Stephen Hume's reporting. Urban wildfires are certainly a horrifying possibility, and I appreciate the information he shares with us about it. However, I feel he has left an impression that urban trees are nice and all, but we might be better off without them due to the possibility of wildfires.
It's important to know that California's Sierra Club says a home itself is often “more ignitable than the vegetation surrounding it.” It mentions a common sight after wildfires in urban areas: smoking holes in the ground, where houses once stood -- still surrounded by living, green trees.
They note that well-spaced plant life can actually block wind-blown embers from reaching your home, while a yard completely devoid of vegetation can create a “bowling alley” for embers. Burning embers can float in on the wind from as far as a mile away.
If people are considering cutting down urban trees after reading this article, please first read the Sierra Club's "5 Ways to Protect Your Home from Wildfires". (Link below)
There may also be more to the issue of whether or not urban trees cause drying of other vegetation. Yes, they need water to grow. But they are also known to help retain soil, and water in the soil. Trees also have an effect on regional micro-climates. Well-treed areas may be moister and can have more rainfall.
Let's make well-thought-out decisions about trees. Mature trees are not easily replaced. They take decades to grow. And most importantly, they may well be the key to reducing climate change.
A recent study found that planting trees, and preventing further deforestation, are by far the best climate mitigation tools we have. A lead researcher said, "I thought restoration would be in the top 10, but it is overwhelmingly more powerful than all of the other climate change solutions proposed.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions
Last year, the UN's International Panel on Climate Change warned that we have only 10 to 12 years (now 9 to 11) to make drastic changes, in order to prevent catastrophe.
Wildfires are a possibility, and we should do all we can to protect ourselves. But the climate crisis is here now. It is more important than ever before to preserve and protect every tree we can, and to plant many more.
Sincerely,
Grace Golightly
The Sierra Club's '5 Ways to Protect Your Home From Wildfires'
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/5-ways-protect-your-home-wildfires
The California Chaparral Institute similarly makes a number of suggestions::
http://www.californiachaparral.com/bprotectingyourhome.html
In this article, a farmer says, "We can grow water," referring to planting trees with deep roots. (If clicking on the link just shows photos, use your back button to find the article): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis?CMP=share_btn_fb&page=with%3Aimg-3&fbclid=IwAR1vEbRstj95XSeEwT7ZNENWrORIwxKu5yl_Sohhou0ZcqoWKcG31MP-YYg#img-3