Palm trees have been synonymous with Los Angeles for decades, appearing on everything from tourism ads to movie posters. But now, LA’s iconic trees are dying from a fatal fungus and an invasive beetle, as well as simply from old age, and the city doesn’t have any plans to revive them, according to Los Angeles Times.
Palm trees have been synonymous with Los Angeles for decades, appearing on everything from tourism ads to movie posters. But now, LA’s iconic trees are dying from a fatal fungus and an invasive beetle, as well as simply from old age, and the city doesn’t have any plans to revive them, according to Los Angeles Times.
Instead, Los Angeles officials said they will replace the dead and dying palm trees with more drought-tolerant species that provide more shade in order to better handle the impacts of climate change.
“Palms are decorative and iconic, but Los Angeles is facing more and more heatwaves, so it’s important that we plant trees that provide adequate shade to protect people and cool the city down,” Elizabeth Skrzat, program director for City Plants, the city’s tree planting arm, told The Guardian.
Read more at Yale Environment 360
Image: A Los Angeles street lined in palm trees. (Credit: Pixabay)
