This US island is home to flora found nowhere else. Now, a wildfire threatens extinction: ‘watching with trepidation’
Summary
A large wildfire is burning on Santa Rosa Island, threatening the only local grove of Torrey pine trees and five other rare plants found nowhere else. Firefighters are working to protect these rare plants, but biologists are concerned because these plants may not be able to survive a severe fire. The fire was likely started by a sailor who crashed on the island and used flares to call for help.Key Facts
- Santa Rosa Island has a small grove of Torrey pine trees more than 250 years old, found only here and in San Diego County.
- The island is home to six plant species that grow nowhere else on Earth.
- The wildfire has burned about one-third of the island’s 18,000 acres.
- Fire is rare on the Channel Islands, so many plants may not be adapted to survive wildfires.
- Some plants may recover well after fire, but the Torrey pine and certain succulents’ chances are unknown.
- The fire started after a 67-year-old sailor crashed his boat and fired flares to call for help.
- The Channel Islands have seen a comeback of rare native plants after past damage by non-native animals.
- Conservationists are watching closely to see if the rare plants can recover from this fire.
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