The canopy of Australia and California is being destroyed by wildfires. There are several reasons for this, warmer temperatures, dryer climates and an abundance of tinder. But there is another problem that's just beginning to dawn on forest managers: eucalyptus trees.
In the late 19th Century most of California's natural forests were cut down to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Civic planners feared that the State's towns would dry up and large areas become desert. Planting eucalyptus trees was the solution, they grew quickly and the oil made from them had medicinal properties. As long as the seasonal rains were consistent and the Sierra snow caps remained, this arrangement worked well. Then the climate changes and everything changed. Eucalyptus sap and bark is flammable and the embers flies off in all directions. When a fire starts new fires can appear spontaneously. California's native oaks, elm and laurel trees are more resistant to wildfires but they grow slowly.
Areas where the natural forest has been cut and replaced with eucalyptus trees are being hit hard. Australian and California are not alone, the Iberian Peninsula is also being hit hard. And also non-olive growing areas of Italy.
[video]https://daily.jstor.org/how-eucalyptus-trees-stoke-wildfires/[/video]
In the late 19th Century most of California's natural forests were cut down to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Civic planners feared that the State's towns would dry up and large areas become desert. Planting eucalyptus trees was the solution, they grew quickly and the oil made from them had medicinal properties. As long as the seasonal rains were consistent and the Sierra snow caps remained, this arrangement worked well. Then the climate changes and everything changed. Eucalyptus sap and bark is flammable and the embers flies off in all directions. When a fire starts new fires can appear spontaneously. California's native oaks, elm and laurel trees are more resistant to wildfires but they grow slowly.
Areas where the natural forest has been cut and replaced with eucalyptus trees are being hit hard. Australian and California are not alone, the Iberian Peninsula is also being hit hard. And also non-olive growing areas of Italy.
[video]https://daily.jstor.org/how-eucalyptus-trees-stoke-wildfires/[/video]
