On May 1st, Watt Commercial Properties removed three mature jacaranda trees from Ash Street as part of the Watt Little Italy development.

The trees were cut down without the required permits, causing an uproar among city officials, tree enthusiasts and pedestrian advocates who consider the trees to be valuable because of their age (estimated to be up to 50 years old) and because of the beauty and character they bring to Ash Street.

The company has taken full responsibility and plans to replant the trees. In fact, plans call for 33 new trees to be planted on the block. Unfortunately it will be a long time before the trees mature to the size of those removed.

The jacaranda trees are an integral feature of Ash Street as well as many other streets in San Diego. Mature street trees are not only an important part of the biosphere, but they also provide shade and beauty to humans, and habitat to birds and animals. A landscape without trees is impoverished in many ways.

In the two years of Mayor Dick Murphy's administration, City Hall has become extremely tree-conscious and, with so much new development in the city, tree preservation has become a priority. Last month, Murphy unveiled his Community Roots Initiative, which calls for the planting of 5,000 trees a year for the next 20 years.

Members of the mayor's Tree Advisory Board, angered by the jacarandas' removal, are pushing for a long-stalled ordinance that would grant protected status for certain trees.

"We would like to see that ordinance dealt with, handled, approved, edited or whatever is needed, so it can become policy," said Nancy Hughes, WalkSanDiego Boardmember and chair of the Tree Advisory Board. The ordinance is likely to be discussed at the next meeting of the City Council's Rules, Finance and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. Councilman Jim Madaffer has called for a moratorium on tree removal until a uniform policy can be adopted.