She has been with the parks for three years and has noticed a spike in thefts during her tenure , she said . In 2008 , poachers cut the burl from the base of trees in California . The lumpy wood is sold for thousands of dollars to make furniture . Officials close a path through the redwood forest at night to protect Earth 's tallest trees . One official compares the burl harvesting to killing elephants for their ivory .
In 2008 , poachers cut the burl from the base of trees in California . The lumpy wood is sold for thousands of dollars to make furniture . Officials close a path through the redwood forest at night to protect Earth 's tallest trees . One official compares the burl harvesting to killing elephants for their ivory .