In California’s Jurupa Valley, a tree that existed during the time of the sabre-toothed cats is still thriving. But despite surviving the last ice age and adapting to a warming climate, advocates worry the Jurupa oak is now at risk of development. This week, the Jurupa Valley Planning Commission reportedly approved plans for development around the oak, which is believed to be between 13,000 and 18,000 years old. Korean VCR.
- wood: As The Washington Post The report said the tree “appears to be a collection of shrubs nestled atop a hill in a rocky valley, but these shrubs are actually just the canopy of a massive oak tree, up to 90 feet long and 30 feet wide,” most of which is underground. Los Angeles Times It is thought to be one of the oldest plants on Earth. You can see an image of it here. NBC News video.
- plan: Developer Richland Communities is planning a 1.4-square-mile development in the city of 100,000 people that will include 1,700 homes, a business park and a public school.
- Are you in danger? Environmentalists warn that measures the developer has promised to protect the tree — a 250-foot mooring and keeping machinery away from it for about 260 feet — aren’t enough. Laying asphalt or concrete on the surrounding hills could destroy the tree’s extensive root system and create a “heat island” effect, they say. They also worry about vibrations from construction. “It could be enough to push this plant over the edge,” says Aaron Echols, president of the local conservation association. ABC7.
- public opinion: During the public comment period, the planning commission received more than 100 letters opposing the development, and dozens of people attended the discussion (more than half opposed). “We’ve discovered a treasure in our humble town that’s on the world stage,” resident Jenny Iyer said. “Are we going to let one of the oldest living things on earth die just because the City of Jurupa Valley approves an industrial or business park next to it?”
- Oldest Living Organism: The Jurupa oak is thought to be the third or fourth oldest living thing on Earth, behind the Tasmanian holly (43,000 years old) and the Utah aspen (80,000 years old). “It’s a little bit like seeing what the world was like in the Ice Age,” scientist Andrew Sanders said, speaking about the tree to Eyewitness News in 2009, adding, “In this case, you don’t need to look at fossils; you can look at living specimens.”
- What’s next: The Planning Commission voted 4-1 in favor, but the development plans must be approved by the full City Council before moving forward.
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