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California Today: More Than 100 Million Trees Are Dead. What Now? California Today: More Than 100 Million Trees Are Dead. What Now?
(2 days later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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California’s trees are dying at an alarming rate.California’s trees are dying at an alarming rate.
Late last week, the U.S. Forest Service said an aerial survey revealed that 36 million additional trees had died while in the grip of persistent drought, bringing the total since 2010 to more than 102 million.Late last week, the U.S. Forest Service said an aerial survey revealed that 36 million additional trees had died while in the grip of persistent drought, bringing the total since 2010 to more than 102 million.
Those numbers have startled California officials and scientists while adding urgency to a long-simmering debate over what should be done about it.Those numbers have startled California officials and scientists while adding urgency to a long-simmering debate over what should be done about it.
The tree deaths have been concentrated in the southern and central Sierra Nevada, but experts warn of increasing deaths in forests all the way up to the Oregon border.The tree deaths have been concentrated in the southern and central Sierra Nevada, but experts warn of increasing deaths in forests all the way up to the Oregon border.
As a result, forestry officials have asked for more funding to thwart wildfire risks through prescribed burning and the removal of millions of dead trees. “We must fund wildfire suppression like other natural disasters in the country,” Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, said in a statement.As a result, forestry officials have asked for more funding to thwart wildfire risks through prescribed burning and the removal of millions of dead trees. “We must fund wildfire suppression like other natural disasters in the country,” Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, said in a statement.
But some ecologists say the emphasis on fire danger and its attendant demand for increased logging are misplaced.But some ecologists say the emphasis on fire danger and its attendant demand for increased logging are misplaced.
Do everything necessary to eliminate risks to humans, these experts argue, but otherwise leave dead trees alone to decompose or go up in flames and create new habitats. Far from being disasters, wildfires can be an adrenaline shot for biodiversity, they say.Do everything necessary to eliminate risks to humans, these experts argue, but otherwise leave dead trees alone to decompose or go up in flames and create new habitats. Far from being disasters, wildfires can be an adrenaline shot for biodiversity, they say.
“A lot of the hype seems to me a lack of understanding of the naturalness of disturbance in ecology,” said Richard Hutto, an ecologist at the University of Montana.“A lot of the hype seems to me a lack of understanding of the naturalness of disturbance in ecology,” said Richard Hutto, an ecologist at the University of Montana.
The tree die-off may ultimately signal a transformation of California’s forest ecosystems as a result of climate change, many scientists say. In some places, woodlands would simply give way to grasslands.The tree die-off may ultimately signal a transformation of California’s forest ecosystems as a result of climate change, many scientists say. In some places, woodlands would simply give way to grasslands.
Max A, Moritz, a wildfire specialist at the University of California, Berkeley, said the focus on wildfire prevention has taken attention away from addressing what that shift is going to mean for California. Max A. Moritz, a wildfire specialist at the University of California, Berkeley, said the focus on wildfire prevention has taken attention away from addressing what that shift is going to mean for California.
“The question is: What are we going to do?” Dr. Moritz said. “Can we guide these systems as they change? Can we help push them in directions so that there’s not just going to be weeds everywhere?”“The question is: What are we going to do?” Dr. Moritz said. “Can we guide these systems as they change? Can we help push them in directions so that there’s not just going to be weeds everywhere?”
• Kern County, at the southern end of the Central Valley, stands out as a rare bastion of red in deep-blue California. [The New York Times]• Kern County, at the southern end of the Central Valley, stands out as a rare bastion of red in deep-blue California. [The New York Times]
• Immigrants who signed up for a program that would protect them from deportation are worried about being forced back underground. [The New York Times]• Immigrants who signed up for a program that would protect them from deportation are worried about being forced back underground. [The New York Times]
• Facebook is thinking about ways to combat fake news after it was accused of affecting the presidential election’s outcome. [The New York Times]• Facebook is thinking about ways to combat fake news after it was accused of affecting the presidential election’s outcome. [The New York Times]
• Anyone who doubts that progressivism is good business has to reckon with California’s success. [Opinion | The New York Times]• Anyone who doubts that progressivism is good business has to reckon with California’s success. [Opinion | The New York Times]
• The world’s best climber is taking on Yosemite’s Dawn Wall. He wanted to shatter a record. Now he’s just trying to finish. [The New York Times]• The world’s best climber is taking on Yosemite’s Dawn Wall. He wanted to shatter a record. Now he’s just trying to finish. [The New York Times]
• President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice of Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general has unnerved cannabis proponents. [McClatchy News Service]• President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice of Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general has unnerved cannabis proponents. [McClatchy News Service]
• How Apple is empowering, and employing, the American working class. [The New York Times]• How Apple is empowering, and employing, the American working class. [The New York Times]
• California’s newest public art installation off Catalina Island is accessible only to scuba divers. [The New York Times]• California’s newest public art installation off Catalina Island is accessible only to scuba divers. [The New York Times]
• Kanye West went on a tirade during a concert in Sacramento on Saturday, praising Donald Trump and calling out Beyoncé ... [The New York Times]• Kanye West went on a tirade during a concert in Sacramento on Saturday, praising Donald Trump and calling out Beyoncé ... [The New York Times]
• … then, on Sunday, the rapper canceled his show at the Forum in Los Angeles a few hours before he was to perform. [Los Angeles Times]• … then, on Sunday, the rapper canceled his show at the Forum in Los Angeles a few hours before he was to perform. [Los Angeles Times]
• The N.F.L. this week: On Monday night, the Raiders play the Texans (in Mexico City). On Sunday, the 49ers play the Dolphins, the Rams play the Saints, the Chargers play the Texans and the Raiders host the Panthers.• The N.F.L. this week: On Monday night, the Raiders play the Texans (in Mexico City). On Sunday, the 49ers play the Dolphins, the Rams play the Saints, the Chargers play the Texans and the Raiders host the Panthers.
• The day after Thanksgiving is Green Friday, environmentalists’ answer to Black Friday. Under the program, Californians can get free day passes to any of 116 state parks.• The day after Thanksgiving is Green Friday, environmentalists’ answer to Black Friday. Under the program, Californians can get free day passes to any of 116 state parks.
• Friday is also one of the year’s big moviegoing days. Reviews of five films that are getting buzz: “Elle,” “Arrival,” “The Edge of Seventeen,” “Manchester by the Sea,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”• Friday is also one of the year’s big moviegoing days. Reviews of five films that are getting buzz: “Elle,” “Arrival,” “The Edge of Seventeen,” “Manchester by the Sea,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
• On Sunday, Olivia Newton-John will be grand marshal of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, one of Southern California’s biggest holiday events.• On Sunday, Olivia Newton-John will be grand marshal of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, one of Southern California’s biggest holiday events.
When the penitentiary on Alcatraz Island closed in the early 1960s, the windswept rock in the San Francisco Bay sat unused for years.When the penitentiary on Alcatraz Island closed in the early 1960s, the windswept rock in the San Francisco Bay sat unused for years.
That provided what a group of American Indian activists saw as an opening.That provided what a group of American Indian activists saw as an opening.
It was this week in 1969 that about 80 Native Americans sailed to Alcatraz, set up camp and demanded that the former prison outpost be deeded back to them by the federal government.It was this week in 1969 that about 80 Native Americans sailed to Alcatraz, set up camp and demanded that the former prison outpost be deeded back to them by the federal government.
The occupiers, calling themselves Indians of All Tribes, argued that an 1868 treaty gave American Indians the right to claim unused federal land. Alcatraz, they said, would be developed as a cultural and education center.The occupiers, calling themselves Indians of All Tribes, argued that an 1868 treaty gave American Indians the right to claim unused federal land. Alcatraz, they said, would be developed as a cultural and education center.
“We, the Native Americans, reclaim the land known as Alcatraz Island in the name of all American Indians by right of discovery,” their proclamation read.“We, the Native Americans, reclaim the land known as Alcatraz Island in the name of all American Indians by right of discovery,” their proclamation read.
The government refused but took an approach of noninterference.The government refused but took an approach of noninterference.
A rotating group of American Indians stayed in the former prison buildings, without fresh water or phone service, for 19 months before being removed by federal marshals on June 11, 1971.A rotating group of American Indians stayed in the former prison buildings, without fresh water or phone service, for 19 months before being removed by federal marshals on June 11, 1971.
The takeover generated wide news media attention and awakened many Americans for the first time to the plight of Native Americans.The takeover generated wide news media attention and awakened many Americans for the first time to the plight of Native Americans.
In the decade that followed, American Indian activists occupied dozens of other locations, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington.In the decade that followed, American Indian activists occupied dozens of other locations, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington.
More recently, historians have characterized the protests on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation against the Dakota Access oil pipeline as an echo of that heyday of activism that was ushered in by the occupation of Alcatraz.More recently, historians have characterized the protests on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation against the Dakota Access oil pipeline as an echo of that heyday of activism that was ushered in by the occupation of Alcatraz.
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.