Conservation Group Opposes Cutting Down Trees

BERKELEY, Calif., Jul. 24, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- More tree trouble around U.C Berkeley. A conservation group says plans to cut down the non-native eucalyptus trees that can fuel brush fires -- isn't the only solution. They say we should, instead, be focusing limited resources on creating defensible space.

Last year, UC Berkeley chopped down and chipped 12,000 eucalyptus trees.

Tom Klatt, U.C. Disaster Preparedness Manager: "Within about 4 to 5 years, an 18 inch depth of chips will completely disappear back to soil."

Tom Klatt is leading U.C. Berkeley's effort to eradicate these fast- growing trees. After these trees are felled Klatt and his team have 180 seconds to apply herbicide to the stump.

Tom Klatt: "If you wait longer than three minutes you can get an air pocket or air embolism that blocks the transport of the liquid herbicide."

A sapling can grow 15 feet in one year. The fear is that they will fuel a massive, unstoppable fire.

Peter Scott, Hills Conservation Network: "We believe the eucalyptus were used as a scapegoat after the 91 fire for the reason the fire was not controlled."

Peter Scott and the Hills Conservation Network calls it eucalyptus hysteria. He says that while the underbrush burned during an Oakland Hills fire on June 20th, the eucalyptus grove never caught fire.

Peter Scott: "Our point is if some one is going to do fire suppression, they should be addressing the brush and debris under the trees."

Each governing authority has its own strategy.

Peter Scott: "Now Oakland cuts down its eucalyptus trees but it has a policy banning the use of pesticides. Because of that this whole hillside has grown back in just five years. "

The re-growth comes back in as a web of off-shoots.

Peter Scott: "It takes a more form as a resprout because it acts as a basket that holds all the dead eucalyptus branches, bark, and litter above the forest floor, encouraging the fire to climb the tree."

The test has yet to come. U.C. says it's winning the war on eucalyptus trees and strengthening fire prevention. Meanwhile, the Hills Conservation wants it and other entities to stop cutting and use our tax dollars to focus on defensible space.

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