Like other parts of Hawaii, Maui is dotted with dense clusters of pine trees — one of many nonnative plants and grasses that flourish in the tropical climate. In the aftermath of the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history, stoked by high winds that downed trees and power lines, numerous Maui residents have enlisted arborists such as Clark to help prevent trees from falling on their homes, or potentially becoming fuel for future blazes.
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But rushing to clear properties of all foliage, which is also often costly, isn’t the answer. Some experts say fire protection should be balanced with the need to protect Hawaii’s native flora, and even give it a boost by allowing such plants to grow tall amid the region’s thickets of invasive foliage. Thoughtfully planted and well-maintained greenery can be difficult to ignite, they said, and sometimes may even help contain fires and protect structures.
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“A lot of people believe that every bush is going to burst into flames and that’s not necessarily the case,” Durland said. “If you have a bush that is off the ground and is green and in good shape, it’s going to be difficult to ignite. And it may shade the radiant heat from your home.”
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As for Clark and his chain saw acrobatics, the Maui arborist had been tasked with removing pines that were growing in the dense forest surrounding the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Makawao. Many trees all around the property had recently been marked with a red slash of paint signifying that they needed to be removed for the safety of the facility’s workers and its birds, some of the world’s rarest.
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