Governor Brown Declared State of Emergency Last Week as a Result of Unprecedented Tree Die-Off
November 4, 2015 - Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today sent a letter to President Obama calling for federal assistance to address the worst epidemic of tree mortality in modern California history.“Four long years of drought, along with ancillary effects from the drought such as the infestation of native bark beetles, have contributed to the death of millions of trees on federal, state, and private lands across
California,” Senator Boxer wrote in the letter. The U.S. Forest Service has estimated that 22 million trees have died as result of current conditions throughout the state. The high tree mortality rate in California contributes to the risk of wildfires, presents safety risks from falling trees, threatens fragile watersheds due to greater erosion, and can accelerate climate change due to the release of greenhouse gas emissions from increased wildfire activity.
Last week, Governor Jerry Brown issued a State of Emergency proclamation directing multiple state agencies to identify high threat areas, remove dead or dying trees from hazard zones, and implement cross-agency efforts to protect public health and safety. He also wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging federal assistance to help address this threat.
“All levels of government are affected and must work together in an environmentally responsible manner to address this unprecedented tree die-off,” Boxer wrote. “I request that you direct the appropriate departments within your Administration to coordinate with and assist the State of California in combatting this emergency.”
The full text of the letter follows:
November 4, 2015
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
Four long years of drought, along with ancillary effects from the drought such as the infestation of native bark beetles, have contributed to the death of millions of trees on federal, state, and private lands across California. A resulting effect is that California is now facing the worst epidemic of tree mortality rate in modern history. In fact, the U.S. Forest Service has estimated that 22 million trees have died as a cause of current conditions throughout the state.
Not only are the people of California concerned about the rapid death of so many trees, but they are also concerned this immense die-off will contribute to the risk of wildfires, present additional safety risks from falling trees to impacted residents in rural and forested communities, threaten the health of fragile watersheds due to greater erosion, and accelerate climate change conditions due to the release of greenhouse gas emissions from increased wildfire activity.
On Friday, October 30, Governor Jerry Brown issued a State of Emergency proclamation directing multiple state agencies to identify high threat areas, remove dead or dying trees from hazard zones, and implement cross-agency efforts to protect the public health and safety, along with many other actions.
All levels of government are affected and must work together in an environmentally responsible manner to address this unprecedented tree die-off. I request that you direct the appropriate departments within your Administration to coordinate with and assist the State of California in combatting this emergency.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Source: Senator Barbara Boxer
