The Region : 449 Joshua Trees Illegally Bulldozed

San Bernardino County officials have vowed to prosecute the persons responsible for illegally bulldozing 449 Joshua trees in the high desert community of Yucca Valley, about 30 miles north of Palm Springs. The mass destruction occurred in violation of county ordinances protecting the trees, and unleashed a flood of complaints from local residents. A county ordinance requires that if a developer removes Joshua trees illegally, he can be made to replace the trees with new ones that must stay alive for five years. Raymond White, a local developer and owner of the 55-acre parcel that now contains about 20 mounds of felled Joshua trees, said through a spokesman that the problem was the “deplorable” result of an “honest mistake” by a contractor who prematurely graded the parcel. The spokesman said White has agreed to negotiate with county officials over a way to replace the destroyed trees, some of which were 15 feet tall and more than 200 years old.