Eucalyptus trees, depending on whom you ask, can be seen as either a symbol of California or a wildfire hazard. Here’s the story of the past and future of eucalyptus trees in California, from the perspectives of both their admirers and detractors.
Journey to the Bay Area
Christian Wagner, a tech worker from Pleasanton, wondered, “How did all these eucalyptus trees end up in the Bay Area?” According to Jared Farmer, author of “Trees In Paradise: A California History,” eucalyptus trees arrived in California in the 1850s when Australians brought seeds on ships during the Gold Rush.
At that time, wood was a precious and scarce resource. It was used for nearly everything—from construction and energy to moving goods. Settlers, accustomed to dense forests, found California’s grassy and swampy landscape lacking in trees. They began planting eucalyptus to fill the landscape and provide the much-needed wood.
Growth and Success
Eucalyptus trees thrived in California, even in poor soil conditions. In an average rainy year, these trees can grow 1.2 to 1.8 meters in height and increase in diameter by 1.27 to 2.54 cm during their early growth years. Besides altering the landscape and providing firewood, eucalyptus was also planted as windbreaks. The largest and densest eucalyptus forest in the world is now located on the Berkeley campus, planted around 140 years ago to serve as a windbreak for an old cinder running track.
Boom and Bust
However, not long after their introduction, eucalyptus trees began to face opposition from Californians. Eucalyptus wood proved unsuitable for woodworking due to frequent cracking and splitting. Moreover, these trees depleted nearby water sources. This led to numerous reports of disappointment in California agricultural journals from the 1870s to the 1890s.
Despite this, in the early 20th century, U.S. Forest Service officials, concerned about an impending wood famine, encouraged the planting of eucalyptus. Investors saw an opportunity and started planting millions of eucalyptus trees from Southern California to Mendocino. However, the anticipated wood famine never materialized, and forests further east continued to supply wood adequately. Thousands of acres of eucalyptus planted across California eventually went unharvested, and much of what you see today is a remnant of a century-old abandoned crop.
Fire Risk Concerns
Eucalyptus trees have both supporters and detractors in California, especially following the 1991 East Bay firestorm, which killed 25 people and left thousands homeless. Many experts believe eucalyptus trees increase wildfire risk because their bark dries quickly, ignites easily, and contains highly flammable oils. Despite this, eucalyptus trees still have their proponents who argue that other tree species would also burn. A few years ago, federal funding for cutting down eucalyptus on the East Bay hills was withdrawn after nude protesters hugged eucalyptus trees on the Cal campus. After nearly a decade-long legal battle, the courts permitted UC Berkeley to cut down some trees, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the number of eucalyptus trees in California.
Conclusion
Eucalyptus trees, with their rich history and surrounding controversies, are an integral part of California’s landscape. Whether loved or loathed, they remain a testament to change and adaptation in the region’s natural history. Managing and conserving eucalyptus trees requires careful consideration to balance environmental protection and biodiversity maintenance.