Parts of Angeles National Forest to be restored

[April 15, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Two years after arson led to the largest fire in Los Angeles County history, officials are expected to announce an effort to restore tens of thousands of acres in some of the most severely charred areas of the Angeles National Forest.

The National Forest Foundation, government leaders, conservation groups and corporate sponsors are expected on Friday to announce a five-year effort to plant 3 million trees on 10,000 acres and restore habitat on another 40,000 acres in the Big Tujunga Canyon watershed.

Workers have been collecting and sending seeds to a nursery which has been growing saplings that will be replanted in the forest this year. Officials hope to plant 4,200 acres this year.

An estimated 161,000 acres were destroyed during the 2009 Station Fire.

[Associated Press; By NOAKI SCHWARTZ]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.