Houses built there go up in the midst of an ecosystem programmed to burn regularly, and some homeowners are reluctant to remove trees or greenery even to make the houses firesafe. The lifestyle is so enticing that he and his neighbors are willing to run the risk, he says. Woodruff hesitates to cut even the pines brushing against his wood home because their shade is so beneficial in summer. Foresters think much of this region is overdue for thinning. Yet even firewood gathering has halted because of a ban on wood stoves caused by air pollution inversions in the winter.
Neighbors often disagree on how many trees to cut.
There is no question they can create and sustain an effective canopy if they wish. The issue is whether they will be as conscious of the possibility as their ancestors were. The challenge is to find a balance in both ecosystems that makes environmental and economic sense.