California’s trees are facing multiple threats, including long droughts, massive wildfires, and damage caused by pests and fungi. These factors contribute to the increasing number of record-setting wildfires in the state.
The California Forest Pest Council released a report earlier this year, revealing that elevated levels of tree mortality were recorded on over 2.6 million acres, resulting in an estimated 36.3 million dead trees. The most affected species were fir, followed by ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. The central Sierra Nevada range experienced particularly severe and widespread mortality.
Drought and bark beetle attacks, such as those from the bark and engraver beetles, have been major contributors to tree mortality. Since 2010, over 200 million trees have been killed as a result.
To illustrate the magnitude of the problem, a mortality map shows the extent of tree mortality across California. For a more detailed analysis, the California Pest Conditions Report for 2022 provides additional information.
In 2021, there were 390,000 dead trees across 40,000 acres due to mountain pine beetles. The numbers remained similar in 2022, with 380,000 dead trees across 44,000 acres. The majority of these cases occurred in and around Mammoth within the Inyo National Forests.
According to U.S. Geological Survey forest ecologist Nathan Stephenson, drought conditions create an ideal environment for bark beetles. Even under extreme drought conditions exacerbated by climate change, many trees could have survived. However, due to their limited energy, they are unable to fight off native bark beetle invasions by releasing toxic resins, leaving them defenseless.
Efforts are being made to address the issue. Cal Fire announced grants totaling up to $120 million to improve forest health, including fuel reduction, prescribed burns, and pest management. The funds can also be used for reforestation, conservation easements, and land purchases. Cal Fire has already invested over $600 million in fire prevention since 2011, removing nearly 2 million dead trees. However, experts suggest that the goal of treating 500,000 acres of wildland per year has not yet been achieved. In 2022, an estimated $1.2 billion was spent on mitigating wildfires in California.
For further information, Cal Fire’s assessment reports and the U.S. Forest Service’s drought and tree mortality symposium fact sheet provide comprehensive insights.
Comparing 2021 to 2022, it was found that 36.3 million dead trees were recorded across 2.6 million acres in 2022, while in 2021, there were 9.5 million dead trees across 1.3 million acres.
To visualize the data, images displaying the comparison of tree mortality between 2021 and 2022 and the affected counties in California are included.
Sources: U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, California Forest Pest Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture, CAL Fire.
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