Alameda Point Trees Clear Cut.

What a sad day for Alameda.
The chainsaws started early on Barbers Point Rd., followed closely by the angry whine of the chipper as it tore up the 20 plus trees that used to enrich our little neighborhood. Just under two acres of rich habitat for wildlife and the enjoyment of neighbors was turned into an ugly flat empty lot in under 7 hours. I guess it is typically human to destroy nature in the name of progress. I find it particularly ironic that this destruction was carried out by Ploughshares Nursery, our neighborhood organic nursery that specializes in California native plants. It also is ironic that Ploughshares and their parent organization Alameda Point Collaborative didn’t bother to talk to their neighbors because they didn’t have to. You see we are all renters here on Barbers Point Rd. so the planning process treats us as if we don’t exist. But at least we have a voice and can protest the degradation of our neighborhood and speak out for replacing all the trees that were cut down.
But there are others beings whose neighborhood has been destroyed and they don’t have a voice. This land was extensively used as habitat and feeding ground by Redtail hawks, Great Blue Herons, hummingbirds, Redwing Blackbirds, Jack Rabbits, gophers, House Finches, Mockingbirds, Blue jays, Crows, and large numbers of LBBs (Little Brown Birds). This is not by any means a complete list; it just covers the most visible of the many animals that use this land for food and shelter. This two-acre area between Barbers Point Road and Main St. was what is called an edge environment. An edge environment tends to have both trees and open field. This combination provides food and shelter for a wide range of animals making a particularly rich environment that supports more wildlife than either an open field or a fully wooded area. In an intensely urban area like Alameda the loss of this much wildlife habitat is particularly troubling. Because open space is at premium here it is not easy for wildlife to move to another place for food and shelter. This is compounded, especially for birds, by it being the middle of winter. Because of the cold and wet conditions, this is a time of year when food and shelter are particularly important for our resident birds.
I’m asking my neighbors and fellow residents of Alameda to help me speak out on behalf of the wildlife that have no voice to speak for themselves. With some careful planning and effort this land can accommodate both the wildlife and Ploughshares expansion plans. I encourage you to take a minute and call the numbers below. Please ask Alameda Point Collaborative and Alameda City Planning to prepare and implement a tree replacement plan as soon as possible. This is something they should have done in the first place rather than being encouraged to do it after the fact. With a little input from you this land can continue to support a large and diverse bird and animal population. Time is of the essence here; it is important that A.P.C. act soon to remediate the environmental damage that clear cutting this lot has caused. Please call Doug Biggs at Alameda Point Collaborative/Ploughshares at 510-898-7849 or dbiggs@apcollaborative.org and ask him to replace all of the trees that were cut down. Also please call Mr. Andrew Thomas of the Alameda City Planning Dept. at 510-747-6881 or athomas@ci.alameda.ca.us and ask him to look at the situation and help with a remediation plan. If you are directed to voicemail, do leave a message and do ask for a call back. Please be polite but firm, these are not bad folks, they are just folks who made a fixable mistake. So lets make sure they do fix it.
Thanks in advance for your help.