By Sydney Mucha, Communications Intern

Two weeks ago, the Senate voted on the issue of climate change, determining that “it is real and not a hoax.” Yet, the chamber still wouldn’t admit that climate change is human caused.

Soon after, President Obama announced his proposed FY2016 budget, and while gains were made in Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLR) with the addition of 10 new projects, budget cuts were seen elsewhere.

Forests are a great way to combat climate change and they provide generations of people with beautiful and serene landscapes.
Forests are a great way to combat climate change and they provide generations of people with beautiful and serene landscapes. Photo Credit: Chesapeake Bay Foundation/Flickr

While this is disappointing to many of us, there is still hope for the planet if we act now. That is why we’re urging our friends and supporters to sign our petition —a letter to President Obama to make forests play an important role in the country’s climate change plan. It is our hope that, with this petition and American Forests’ other policy priorities, we can impart on the president, his staff and members of  Congress the brevity of this issue.

As we all know, trees play an important role in the overall health of the planet, and even better, they can be a major advantage to combating climate change! Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a major factor in global warming, and then convert it into oxygen through photosynthesis. Using best forest management practices can allow forests to sequester carbon for decades and keep fighting against climate change.

Please take a moment to sign the petition and share with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. With your support, we can encourage the president and his administration to ensure that forests have a place in our country’s — and the world’s — climate change solutions.