The U.S. Forest Office will take emergency measures on Friday, including the removal of lowland vegetation and other measures that may contribute to the fire, to protect the giant sequoia groves under threat from wildfires. Said.
Since 2015, wildfires have devastated California orchards. According to the Forest Department, about one-fifth of all giant sequoias have been destroyed in the last two years.
All but five of the 37 orchards have been at least partially burned down in recent wildfires. Many giant monarchs, the largest sequoia in the orchard, have been killed.Experts in 2021 75,000 A huge Sequoia remained.
“Without urgent action, wildfires can eliminate a myriad of more iconic giant sequoias,” said Randy Moore, head of the Forest Department. “We can and must do more to protect the giant Sequoia with all the tools and flexibility available. Wildfires occur. This emergency measure to reduce fuel before doing protects huge unburned sequoia groves from the risk of severe wildfires. “
Forest Office said Hoping to complete a preventive project by 2023 or 2024.
Ladder that can spread fire Plans that include removing fuel, needles, grass, and moss and cutting by hand on small trees will help protect 12 giant Sequoia groves, including over 13,300 acres. Other measures to be taken include mechanically removing some trees, pulling rotten material away from the roots of giant sequoia, and setting up a controlled fire.
Protecting approximately 12,000 acres of Sequoia national forest costs approximately $ 15 million. This is due to the recently enacted infrastructure law. According to the Forest Department, work will begin in eight orchards this summer and may begin in three other orchards in the fall.
California Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla said they supported the emergency action plan.
“The giant sequoia grove is a symbol of California, but tragically, almost 20 percent of all mature giant sequoia have burned in the last five years,” Senator said. Written in a joint statement. “We must do everything we can to protect these thousands of years old trees from the threat of wildfires.”
Between 2015 and 2021, more than 85% of the area of all giant sequoia groves throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains was burned by wildfires, but 25% of the last century Park service said.. According to the service, the increase in damage is likely related to climate change and the lack of frequent fires that could wipe out brushes.
Authorities and firefighters were taking steps this month to save a giant sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park, known as the grizzly giant, which is over 2,000 years old and 200 feet high.
The tree was threatened by a washburn fire that led to an evacuation order in Wawona, California, burning more than 4,800 acres.That fire Contains 79% as of Saturday afternoonThe fire authorities said.
To protect grizzly giants, authorities have installed a sprinkler system that removes debris from the roots of trees, cuts down small trees, and intermittently pumps up to 20 gallons of water per minute to increase the humidity at the roots of the trees.
In other recent fires, firefighters wrapped wood in flame-retardant foil, pumped foam, and sprayed it with pink flame retardant.