As tree removals continue in Altadena, residents raise concerns over future

"The trees were sprouting green shoots and to the naked eye appeared healthy - the only sign of life on the side of the street where historic Janes Village homes burned and some neighbors perished. The neighbors who were back in their homes called others who were still displaced. Soon, more than 15 people had gathered in the street to confront the tree service workers, begging them to stop and wondering why the neighborhood had not been made aware of the plans."

""When all of your neighbors are no longer here - or died - or living elsewhere and lost everything, it just feels like a tremendous amount of responsibility." Members of Altadena Green, a group of arborists and landscape experts, estimate that the town known for its lush canopy of trees has lost at least 50% of its pre-fire canopy. Some trees died in the fire; others, local arborists believe, were chopped down carelessly during the early cleanup operations."

Residents confronted tree crews after eucalyptus trees that appeared to be sprouting green shoots were cut down without warning near burned Janes Village homes. Neighbors gathered to beg workers to stop and to question why the community was not notified of removal plans. Arborists and landscape experts with Altadena Green estimate that the town has lost at least 50% of its pre-fire canopy. Some trees died in the fire, while others were reportedly removed carelessly during early cleanup. New property owners clearing land and renewed county removals have left the future of many trees uncertain, and officials previously slowed cuttings amid outcry and safety monitoring.

Read at Los Angeles Times