Reseed burn areas with native seeds

[realFedUp]

Steve Lamb, a cranky Altadenan,
but who often has good advice
about this area, suggested that
the U.S. Forest Dept. still
doesn't buy, keep or use
native seeds when replanting
burn areas. It instead scatters
flammable non-natives that
will go up in flames in future
fires. Good for firefighter's
wallets, but not good for
people or houses.

Doesn't it make sense and is more
cost-effective to plant the hillsides
with plants that won't grow high
and are highly flammable?

Living in Altadena with smoky awful
air but thankful for electricity,
air conditioning and not having
to evacuate. God speed the demise
of these fires and keep those who will
protect us from them.

[Richard D]

1. I'm not sure of this information

Granted, it would be better to reseed with native species, but nearly all native chaparral plants are highly flammable. It's actually part of the chaparral ecosystem to need occasional fires to clear out the undergrowth and make way for new plants. In fact some of the chaparral seed will not sprout unless they are subjected to the high heat of a brush fire.

The key word though is occasional. There's a big problem with the frequent human caused fires on the chaparral ecosystem. When they are too frequent, as is the case now in southern Cal, the ecosystem gets pretty messed up and non-native grass species overwhelm the native plants.

It's pretty amazing how many of the plants in the hills of California are non-native now.