"Since the January 2025 fire siege, roughly 20% of surviving street trees have gone missing, according to preliminary results from a University of California research team. The results from the survey of about 500 trees in the Palisades and 1,500 in Altadena - including conifers, palms, Chinese elms and carrotwoods - seem to confirm worrying patterns observed by arborists and local volunteers in the burn scars, who said losses will probably continue for years to come."
"Many of the hundreds of missing trees probably would have recovered from the damage they suffered in the fires, experts say. Several factors appear to be at work. Even as the Palisades and Altadena rebuild, local governments only undertook limited efforts to water recovering trees. At the same time, building contractors have been quick to remove trees that stand in the way of construction, while debris removal crews have cut down living trees that they mistakenly identified as dead."
"In response to the continuing loss of trees, a group of arborists and volunteers are working to keep the recovering trees alive - and hopefully someday start planting the next generation of the burn scars' urban forests. While many homeowners view trees through the lens of maintenance costs - re"
About a year after the January 2025 wildfires, surviving street trees in Pacific Palisades and Altadena are disappearing at a troubling rate. Preliminary survey results from a University of California research team indicate roughly 20% of surviving street trees are missing since the fire siege. The survey covered about 500 trees in the Palisades and 1,500 in Altadena, including conifers, palms, Chinese elms, and carrotwoods. Experts say many missing trees likely would have recovered from fire damage. Worrying patterns align with observations by arborists and local volunteers in burn scars. Limited watering during rebuilding, quick removal of trees by contractors, and debris crews cutting down living trees mistakenly identified as dead are contributing factors. Arborists and volunteers are using watering trucks, surveying damaged trees, and planning fire-resilient replanting to preserve the urban forest.
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