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More than 36 mln trees die in US California in 2022

According to a recent estimate from the US Forest Service, the combined effects of a protracted drought, overcrowded forest conditions, insect outbreaks, and disease caused the death of about 36 million trees in the western US state of California last year. (AFP)

According to a recent estimate from the US Forest Service, the combined effects of a protracted drought, overcrowded forest conditions, insect outbreaks, and disease caused the death of about 36 million trees in the western US state of California last year.

The report revealed that approximately 36.3 million trees on 2.6 million acres (or 1.05 million square kilometers) of public, private, and government land in California died in 2022. The report also noted that total tree mortality increased significantly both in acres affected and particularly in estimated trees killed from 2021 in which an estimated 9.5 million trees died in the state.

"Since 2020, California has experienced the driest and warmest years on record causing serious drought conditions. Without enough water, trees are susceptible to bark beetle attacks and disease," said the US Forest Service in a news release, adding that "their susceptibility rises when trees are crowded and temperatures are abnormally high."

"Even with the recent storms from atmospheric rivers, increased tree mortality should be expected in forests until precipitation returns to normal or above normal for a few years," the agency said.

According to the US Forest Service, the agency and its partners throughout the state are working together to remove dead trees and increase forest health.

"Working together, we can mitigate the risks of tree mortality and high-intensity wildfire by reducing the overabundance of living trees on the landscape," Jennifer Eberlien, Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region, said in the news release.

California has proposed US$1.2 billion as part of a 2.7-billion-dollar multi-year package to accelerate wildfire resilience and forest health.

According to the news release, current and upcoming activities include reducing dense forests in strategic locations, spraying insecticide on the bark of valuable trees, eliminating trees that pose a threat to public safety, and continuing to monitor the state of the landscape.

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