EMA Plans Clear-Cutting 85,000 Berkeley and Oakland Trees
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By Randy Shaw
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is moving to chop down 22,000 trees in Berkeley's historic Strawberry and Claremont Canyons and over 60,000 more in Oakland. This destructive plan is rapidly moving forward with little publicity, and FEMA cleverly scheduled its three public meetings for mid and late May while UC Berkeley students were in finals or gone for the summer.
UC Berkeley has applied for the grant to destroy the bucolic Strawberry and Claremont Canyon areas, claiming that the trees pose a fire hazard. The school has no plans to replant, and instead will cover 20% of the area in wood chips two feet deep. And it will pour between 700 and 1400 gallons of herbicide to prevent re-sprouting, including the highly toxic herbicide, Roundup. People are mobilizing against this outrageous proposal, which UC Berkeley has done its best to keep secret.
Strawberry Canyon. Photo credit: Corin Royal DrummondWhen I heard this week that the federal government would be funding the clear-cutting of 85,000 beautiful Berkeley and Oakland trees, including 22,000 in historic Strawberry and Claremont Canyon, my initial reaction was disbelief. I then wondered how the feds have money for this destructive project while Head Start and public housing programs are being cut due to the sequester.
The trees in Strawberry and Claremont Canyon have been there for decades and hardly constitute a "hazard." But pouring 1400 gallons of herbicide on the currently pristine hills will create a real hazard, and UC Berkeley even plans to use the highly toxic herbicide "Roundup" to squelch the return of non-native vegetation.
This is a true horror story that will happen absent public opposition. I know that many will find it hard to believe that this could occur in the pro-environment San Francisco Bay Area, but UC Berkeley may be counting on this attitude to get all the approvals they need before people find out the truth.
Please read "Death of a Million Trees," which provides all of the facts, figures and background about the Strawberry and Claremont Canyon proposed clear cutting as well as the tree destruction plans for the East Bay. The last public hearing will be held Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10 AM - 12 PM, at Claremont Middle School, 5750 College Avenue in Oakland.
The public has until June 17 to submit written comments on the project. You can do so through the East Bay Hills hazardous fire risk reduction project website, or via email.
There are countless destructive attacks on the environment that Bay Area activists cannot impact. But this is occurring in our own backyard, and activists must make sure that this cannot happen here.
Roundup = Monsanto
ReplyDeleteA perfect opportunity for Occupy to protest. COWS do still exist don't they? After all they were a major movement weren't they? Weren't they?
ReplyDeleteWhere for art thou COWS?
This is an ecological disaster, probably initiated by wealthy land owners, would-be developers and their bought politicians. On a side note, Angie, Roundup is Monsanto's trade name for glyphosate, which was discovered to have herbicidal properties by one of their researchers, and was patented by them. Since the patent is now expired, several companies market glyphosate under different trade names. However, glyphosate is not very effective for killing stumps, so 24D or 345T are commonly used mixed with diesel oil. That combination not only kills brush and stumps but renders the land unusable for growing plants for years. I sincerely hope someone is able to stop this evil plan. Dry woods and brush land need wildfires for their continuing health, but, of course the developers don't care about that, only the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteFEMA is doing this ... the government.....
DeleteYes, I know, but why is FEMA involved? I think the answer is Politics, with a capital P.
Deleteit is more about control ...
DeleteGod forbid they cut down a few trees and put up a "building." Be still my heart!
DeleteAll of UC Berkley's buildings should be torn down and classes held in Teepees.