Clear Cutting Chaparral in Cleveland National Forest

[hniederb]

weeds can be treated quickly on the threat of fire and has less burning intensity than chaparral also the forest service has many biologists and lands people they have to go through before they can even attempt a project such as this

[naturegirllori]

@hniederb Actually, weeds CANNOT be treated quickly, and removing the native brush encourages weeds to grow - causing a more serious fire danger than was already present. According to the California Invasive Plant Council, invasive plants cost California at least $82 million each year. Cornell University estimated that invasive species cause $120 billion in damage in the United States each year (Pimentel et al., Ecological Economics, 2005).

[naturegirllori]

There is a ton of science that supports the fact that non-native invasive weeds fuel wildfires. A great place to start: ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelib­rary/1359/39103.pdf Unfortunatly science often takes a back seat when officials need to mollify the public and tragedies like the clear cut of this chaparral (which was NO WHERE NEAR human development) take place. 3 critical factors involved in reducing community fire risk: location, building design, and APPROPRIATE defensible space. :)

[hniederb]

so if a large fire comes out of Trabuco canyon do you think the brush is fire resistant and then what about the trees have you seen the abundance of pine trees up their? Their is only a few stands they are reducing the fuels around them so they will not burn up You IDIOT

[naturegirllori]

@hniederb - native plants are certainly not fire resistant,but the non-native weeds that frequently invade after an ecosystem has been disturbed present an even more serious fire threat. Occasional fires are a natural ecosystem process. "Fuel reduction" in a place like this - miles and miles away from where anyone lives - is unecessary and destructive to habitat. For more info visit californiachaparral

[ShamanOwllady]

Great video! Not only is this plant Chaparral more fire resistant but it is also well known to be effective in dissolve tumors and treating cancer, but the FDA has tried to ban it and place strict laws on it.