The canopy of LA’s fragile city was hit with a malicious blow as chainsaw-wielding vandalism cut down many shaded trees along South Grand Avenue and other areas, according to media posts and photos.
The Los Angeles Police Department told The Times, where no information was made regarding the tree destruction, that emails and calls to the city’s urban forestry department were not answered on Sunday.
Social media images showed many trees cut at the base, while other images were cut several feet above the pavement. Some cut trees were still connected to the trunk by bark and wood threads.
All the trees between 1st Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard have been cut down, according to Reddit user TiptapmyWipWap. However, a review of the photos suggests that some are standing there.
Instagram photos show fallen trees at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street, Olympic Boulevard and Figuero Street, Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue.
Many trees appeared to be drought-bearing species known as Indian Laurel figs Ficus Microcarpa.
Trees bring countless benefits to urban areas. They capture stormwater runoff and replenish groundwater and streets. They also help to clean the air and cool areas experiencing increasingly hotter temperatures due to global climate change and built environments. One study found that shade can reduce heat stress in the human body by 25% to 30% throughout the day.
Social media users have denounced the perpetrator, and some noted that the cut took place just before Earth Day.
“So ecoterrorism on a day when most people are celebrating Earth Day? It seems very intentional,” said @janky-ciborium-138.
Others wondered whether it was an epic plot by someone who wanted to defeat the tree but didn’t want to pass the red tape of the city’s bureaucracy.
“Someone had to remove these trees – either employees in some cities or private developers – and we decided this was much easier than getting actual permission,” said @difficult.
Many people should be able to use video evidence for reviewers because security cameras are ubiquitous.
