Mount Maunganui 'misinformation': Did cutting down trees really cause the landslide?

Do trees prevent landslides? What science says about roots, rainfall and stability

DJ Mills/Getty ImagesIn the days since last week’s fatal landslides at Mount Maunganui, there has been widespread discussion about what may have caused the slopes above the campground to fail, including the possible role of recent tree removal on Mauao. In the aftermath of such tragedy, it is natural to search for clear explanations. But landslides typically reflect a complex combination of factors – from geology and long-term slope evolution to…

Mount Maunganui 'misinformation': Did cutting down trees really cause the landslide?

Amid speculation that the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide was caused by the prior removal of large exotic trees, two scientists told Neil Reid why other...