American Forests Forestbytes April 2010

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Celebrate Earth Day with American Forests

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day Thursday, April 22 and all month long. Plant a tree in a Global ReLeaf project, purchase a tree from our Historic Tree Nursery – like this month’s featured Oklahoma City Survivor Elm. Go visit a Big Tree (the list of National Champion Big Trees will be available on our website for Arbor Day!) and join American Forests, the organization that makes this all happen. Visit our Earth Day webpages for additional information.

Also, see the list below of current Earth Day contests & promotions you can participate in – and be sure to visit us on the National Mall if you’re in DC for Earth Week, April 17 – 25!

For an Earth Day message from President Obama and links to volunteer activities nationwide, visit www.whitehouse.gov/earthday.

Big Trees and Endangered Species featured in Spring Magazine

The Spring 2010 American Forests magazine will feature an in-depth look at the nearly-endangered whitebark pine, visit the rare Kirtland’s warbler and American Forests’ first Global ReLeaf project, introduce the much-awaited 2010 National Register of Big Trees, and celebrate some momentous American Forests anniversaries. Visit americanforests.org to become a member and receive our flagship publication. Check out previous issues of the magazine online. For a complimentary copy of a recent issue of American Forests, send an email with your address to info@amfor.org.

Other fun ways to participate in Earth Month:

Vote for us for the Redwood Creek Wines Greater Outdoors Project through August 31.

Vote in Earthbound Farm's Earth Day Promotion Through April 30.

Tweet in Earth911.com’s Twitter Contest Through Earth Day.

Enter The Earth Day ‘Into the woods!’ Photo Contest Through Earth Day.

Learn more.

Tree of the Month: Survivor Tree
On April 21, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum will be holding the Reflections of Hope Award Dinner featuring seventy-five Survivor Trees from American Forests’ Historic Tree program. A Survivor Tree will be presented to the dinner’s award recipient – former President Bill Clinton. READ MORE

Macerich
It’s spring gift giving time and for busy shoppers, ‘Going Green’ with gift cards just might be the answer to their shopping challenges. By purchasing a GIVE Green Gift Card branded by American Express, gift givers can easily support Global ReLeaf while giving the recipient the flexibility to shop where they choose. GIVE Green Gift Cards also have the benefit of no after purchase fees which means the funds never expire and the card will not lose any value. READ MORE

Carbon Sinks in the Pacific
The Wilderness Society recently conducted an analysis of data from the U.S. Forest Service, discovering that the top ten national forests in terms of carbon-storage are all located in the Pacific Northwest. These forests hold as much carbon (in some cases, more) than the tropical rainforests that have been so long touted as the best carbon sinks on earth. This is in addition to the many other benefits that these forests provide, including habitats for many endangered, threatened and sensitive species. To learn more about the new analysis of these valuable national treasures Click Here.

Global ReLeaf Project of the Month: Mountain Community Wildfire ReLeaf

In the San Bernardino Mountains, 12 million trees are dead or dying due to six years of drought, weakening the trees’ natural defenses and contributing to the spread of the bark beetle epidemic. Devastating wildfires have swept through parts of the mountains, in some places killing 100 % of the trees. READ MORE

April - Big Tree State Coordinator
After his retirement from 30 years of military and public education service, Maryland Big Tree State Coordinator John Bennett was counting on time to relax. He wasn’t anticipating, then, when he decided to check out a meeting of the local forestry board, that he would become so deeply involved with the Maryland Big Tree Program. READ MORE

Shrinking Songbirds
A recent study shows that birds in the United States are gradually shrinking; a phenomenon thought to be a result of warming temperatures. The change conforms to the concept of Bergmann’s Rule, which states that animals generally become smaller as climates become warmer. The study examined nearly half a million birds, of more than 100 different species. To read more about this study and its implications, click HERE.

Look Out For Upcoming Events... This Spring

White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors (April 16, WATCH IT LIVE)
Visit American Forests’ booth on the National Mall in DC (April 17–25)
Chegg commemorative millionth tree planting (April 16, South Lake Tahoe, CA)
Visit Western Week in Washington - April 17 - 22.
1st annual Origins Rocks Earth Month Concert in NYC with Macy Gray (April 19)
ACT Green Infrastructure Summit in Washington, DC (April 19 – 21)
Hear American Forests board member Boyd Matson address the Earth Day Climate Rally on the Mall in DC (April 25)
Historic Elm ‘Survivor Tree’ featured in Oklahoma City (April 21)
Scotties ReLeaf Chestnut tree project celebration (May 6, Carroll County, MD)
Global ReLeaf 20th Anniversary planting, Kirtland’s Warbler Wildlife Festival, MI, (May 15)

Tree-Rings Tell Fiery Stories
New research into the tree rings of the giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada have revealed details about the past 3,000 years that could otherwise have only been guessed at. By dating fire scars on the trees, scientists have been able to pinpoint periods of wildfires in the region, effectively revealing the longest fire history in the world. READ MORE

2010 National Big Tree Register Coming for Arbor Day
This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees and the upcoming release of the 2010 National Register on our website. READ MORE

Follow us on:

	Bark Beetles and Wildfire: Addressing problems in the west The recent bark beetle epidemic – featured in our Autumn magazine article “Weathering A Perfect Plague” – has been a major concern for the Rocky Mountain West area; killing millions of acres of pine tree forests. The infestation has added more troubles to an area already dealing with drought, wildfire, logging, and climate change. Research is being done to figure out the origin of the epidemic and what measures can be taken to alleviate the problem. READ MORE
	Climate and Energy Bill Prospects Details are emerging after Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released an outline of their climate bill draft plan during a meeting with key industry group reps. The Senators are aiming for the last week of April to unveil their bill; coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. READ MORE

Tree Trivia
Answer to last month’s question: Of the 7,500 apple varieties produced worldwide, 2,500 are grown here in the United States. Thanks to those who sent in answers! The lucky winners will be contacted shortly.

This month’s question:
American Forests’ Global ReLeaf reforestation projects plant 150 – 500 trees per acre. At the rate of 350 trees per acre, about how many trees would it take to plant Washington, DC’s National Mall?

Bonus Question: The National Register of Big Trees began in 1940; can you name any of the three trees to maintain their national championship status since that time?

Learn the answers in next month’s Forestbytes! Send your answers to info@amfor.org, and two randomly selected correct responses will receive a complimentary copy of American Forests magazine and a Tree Hugger t-shirt.

Comments, suggestions on Forestbytes? We would love to hear from you! Send us an email at info@amfor.org.

Ask American Forests' Tree Doctor: American Forests has teamed up with The Davey Tree Expert Company to bring you answers to all your tree-related questions. Email treedoc@amfor.org