Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


California Drought Pushes Estimate of Dead Trees Past 100 Million

by VOA News

   The California drought has significantly increased the number of dead
   trees in the state, which in turn increases the risk of wildfires, U.S.
   officials said Friday.

   Officials said the latest aerial survey by the U.S. Forest Service
   showed an alarming increase in dead trees, which they estimated to
   total 102 million, an increase of 36 million since the government's
   last survey in May.

   U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called on Congress to spend more
   money on forestry management, which he argued could reduce the amount
   needed to fight fires.

   "These dead and dying trees continue to elevate the risk of wildfire,
   complicate our efforts to respond safely and effectively to fires when
   they do occur, and pose a host of threats to life and property,"
   Vilsack said in a statement.

   Scientists say five years of drought in California caused much of the
   tree die-off.

   California forestry officials argue that the dead trees help to spread
   fires more quickly. Some environmentalists argue, however, that tree
   die-off is part of a healthy life cycle for forests and question
   whether there is a correlation between high numbers of dead trees and
   fire severity.