California has lost over 1,760 square miles—nearly 7%—of its tree cover since 1985, according to a recent study.


Dead pines, firs, and cedars stretch as far as the eye can see. Fire burned so hot that soil was still barren in places more than a year later. Granite boulders were charred and flaked from the inferno. Long, narrow indentations marked the graves of fallen logs that vanished in smoke.

After wildfires in 2020 and 2021 wiped out up to about a fifth of all giant sequoias — once considered almost fireproof — the National Park Service last week embarked on a controversial project to help the mighty trees recover with its largest planting of seedlings a single grove.

archive link: https://ghostarchive.org/archive/wJQT6

  • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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    1 year ago

    As usual the editors have to slap a clickbait title on an otherwise reasonable article. The Sierra Nevada faces challenges but redwoods are not going extinct.

      • DaDragon@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        By doing controlled burns. You basically light an area on fire while it is safe to do so, and that burns up the dry material in that area. Ergo- less combustible material in times of drought.

        Also, it helps clear old trees so that new trees can grow. (Additionally redwoods require fire to sprout, iirc)

    • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      Federal policy has to change first, because most of California’s forests are on federal land and subject to federal management practices.