UCSB cuts down 50-year-old tree at campus bus loop due to falling branches

A 50-year-old Moreton Bay ficus tree at the center of the campus bus loop was chopped down on Saturday, March 2 after losing a large leader stem.

First planted in the 1970s, the tree had already lost one leader, a dominant upright stem in the tree,  prior to damage incurred over the weekend, according to university spokesperson Kiki Reyes. Following concerns over the canopy’s structural integrity, campus leaders made the decision to remove the tree.

“The fallen leader was removed, and the campus, after consultation with external experts, determined that the tree could not be saved and was a safety concern because of the unbalanced tree canopy,” Reyes said.

Reyes said the campus will replant another new tree at an unspecified date.

“[The tree] will be selected through our regular campus process, which involves consultation with the Landscape Committee,” Reyes said.

A version of this article appeared on p. 4 of the March 7, 2024, print edition of the Daily Nexus.