Dead and dying trees affected by a bark beetle infestation in California will be removed in a US$70m programme designed to prevent deadly wildfires.
San Bernardino County and federation conservation officials have approved the felling of 35,000-40,000 trees in San Bernardino Mountains during the next three years.
The money is part of a US$120m funding plan by Congress. The remaining US$50m will be spent on similar felling in fire-prone areas of Riverside and San Diego counties, which together with San Bernardino, are home to 90,000 people.
