Los Angeles International Airport occupies a huge tract of
land in El Segundo. There are more than 40,000 feet of runways alone, and
contained within the confines of the airport is a sea of coastal dunes. What
many people don’t know is that the El Segundo Dunes are a protected nature
preserve, one under threat from invasive non-native species. Of particular interest
to environmentalists and airport officials has been the encroachment of acacia
trees, which dot the landscape. Thanks to a joint effort between LAX and the
Los Angeles Zoo, a novel solution has been found for disposing of these
acacias.
In a recent story from the Los
Angeles Times, they reported on an agreement between LAX and Zoo officials
to feed these nuisance trees to some of the more exotic animals at the zoo. Although
acacias are native to Australia, they are a favorite among many herbivores from
Africa. These include giraffes, rhinos, elephants, and other animals, according
to the story.
Every week, workers from the zoo make the trek across town
to the El Segundo Dunes to trim the acacia trees and remove leafy green
branches. The food is brought back to the zoo and fed to the animals, saving
Los Angeles landfills from having to store this biodegradable but bulky refuse.
It’s a win-win deal for officials at both Los Angeles institutions, helping in
the restoration efforts of the fragile dune environment.
The 48-acre dune site sits at the northwest corner of the airport.
It is not open to the public, as officials hope to return the region to its
natural state. Right now, LAX is in the midst of a $3-million renovation of the
region. Following a successful rehabilitation of the coastal dunes, the airport
hopes to remove acacias from more than 300 additional acres at LAX.
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