ForestBytes --- July 2002 Volume III, Issue 27 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.americanforests.org AMERICAN FORESTS People Caring for Trees and Forests Since 1875 To subscribe to ForestBytes: Visit http://www.americanforests.org/ If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to friends and colleagues. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Announcements ¤ Raging Wildfires of the West ¤ Storm Topples Champion Tree ¤ Urban Forestry and the National Association of Conservation Districts II What's Happening ¤ Beat the Summer Heat and Pledge to Conserve Energy ¤ Trees and the 2003 Conservation Spending Bill ¤ Network for Good III. Global ReLeaf ¤ The Texas Lone Star Land Steward Award Goes to... ¤ Save the Environment and on Internet Expenses IV. Environmental News from ENN.com ¤ "Dry Colorado Once Hosted Rainforest, Study Shows" ¤ "New York Settles for Trees in Idling Trucks Pact" == ANNOUNCEMENTS ================================================ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Raging Wildfires of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------- As one of the worst fire seasons in history continues, AMERICAN FORESTS is asking corporations and individuals to join Wildfire ReLeaf, a massive tree planting and education program designed to plant millions of trees in areas scorched by the wildfires of recent years. Every dollar donated to AMERICAN FORESTS plants two trees. Western states have had little time to recover from the devastating fires of 2000, and this year is shaping up to be even worse. By last week, fires had burned a total of 2.6 million acres across the country, nearly double the area burned two years ago. The 375,000-acre Rodeo-Chedeski fire in Arizona and the 137,000-acre Hayman fire in Colorado continue to be the largest fires in those states’ histories. Huge fires that can devastate communities and ecosystems have become much more common due to increased development and decades of suppression of smaller fires. Although we are months away from the first stages of restoration of these forests, AMERICAN FORESTS' Wildfire ReLeaf program works to plant native trees in burned areas that might otherwise take years to regenerate, restoring an environment that is in need of immediate help. The program also serves as a clearinghouse of information on wildfire, wildfire-related issues, and agencies that deal with wildfire. To find out about how you can help restore the burned areas of the United States, visit www.wildfirereleaf.org . Tell a friend! Send them a Wildfire ReLeaf postcard at http://www.americanforests.org/postcards/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- Storm Topples Champion Tree ----------------------------------------------------------------- Maryland’s beloved 450 year-old Wye Oak was tragically toppled in a June 6 storm. Now, for the first time since records began to be kept 65 years ago, AMERICAN FORESTS is searching for a new National Champion white oak. One of America’s most prestigious big trees, the Wye Oak was of legendary size, as well as steeped in Maryland state history. The tree stood nearly 100 feet tall, had a circumference of more than 31 feet, and was one of only four champs that had held its title in the National Register of Big Trees since AMERICAN FORESTS began keeping track in 1940. The three remaining members of the initial class are the champion Rocky Mountain juniper in Utah; the champion western juniper; and the "General Sherman" giant sequoia in California. The Wye Oak, which comprised its own state park, was remarkably resilient, withstanding major limb losses in 1953, 1956, and 1984. In the end, the tree was supported by three lightning rods, concrete and plastic fillings in rotten areas, and one and a half miles of support cable for its massive limbs. The search is on! To nominate a new National Champion white oak for the 2004 National Register, please download a nomination form online at www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees/. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urban Forestry ----------------------------------------------------------------- Local conservation districts can play a major role in enhancing the nation’s urban forestry programs, according to a report released by the National Association of Conservation Districts. The NACD is a national nonprofit organization that represents 3,000 of the governmental bodies that are established under state law to carry out natural resource management at the local level. The NACD is encouraging its members to become more involved in urban forestry as rapid development fosters a need for increased planning and management. An NACD survey found that while 81 percent of responding conservation districts contain urban areas, many do not provide any urban forestry services. For those that do, the most common services offered include education, workshops, and tree planting. The report suggests conservation districts enter into partnerships with state foresters and community groups, while using the media to convince the public of the importance of urban forestry. For more, go to http://nacdnet.org/forestrynotes/special/UrbanForestry.pdf. To learn more about the benefits of planting trees in urban areas, visit http://www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/citygreen/ == WHAT'S HAPPENING =================================================== * Beat the Summer Heat and Pledge to Conserve Energy Summer is underway, and things are heating up. As air conditioners work harder to keep us cool, we're using up energy at a furious rate. Help offset the increased strain this puts on your budget and the environment by planting trees. Trees play a huge role in conserving energy. Trees provide many ecological and economic benefits. Their leaves and roots clean the air we breathe and the water we drink. They even conserve energy in the form of shade! Anyone who has ever sat under a tree on a hot summer day has appreciated the cooling ability of trees, but trees can do more than just provide shade for a picnic. Trees cool our neighborhoods in the summer and save us money on energy costs and related water use and air pollution. AMERICAN FORESTS has developed a method for estimating the energy conservation benefits of trees from direct shading of one and two-story residential buildings. CITYgreen software, created by AMERICAN FORESTS, is a desktop GIS program that calculates the value of trees in urban environments. With CITYgreen, you can understand your local ecology and communicate the value of trees in your city to your decision makers. In a study released in August 2001, AMERICAN FORESTS found that tree cover in the metro Atlanta area saved residents approximately $2.8 million annually in reduced energy costs. In 1999, a 3.2 million acre area around Houston benefited by $26 million annually as a result of the cooling effects of its tree cover. Similar trends have been found throughout the country. As our cities expand and our population moves to increasingly urbanized areas, AMERICAN FORESTS recognizes the ecological value of urban trees as an important conservation issue. Though it is inherently understood that trees improve our environment, until recently it was difficult to quantify these effects. To find out more about trees and energy savings, you can visit http://www.americanforests.org/graytogreen/energy/ For more ways to reduce your energy use, take the SustainUS challenge! SustainUS has teamed up with the Green Ribbon Pledge to prove that U.S. youth (ages 26 and under) can save 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide through energy use reduction by July 31st, 2002! Click to http://www.sustainus.org to sign the pledge and find out more information! SustainUS has challenged President Bush to attend the World Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa if they reach their goal. Even if you're older than 26, you can make a difference. You can take the pledge by visiting http://www.greenribbonpledge.org Join the 10,944 people who have taken the Green Ribbon Pledge to conserve energy for a secure future! The site features hundreds of things you can do every day to reduce energy consumption. And cutting down energy use is one of the most important ways we can secure a better, more energy-efficient future. * Trees and the 2003 Conservation Spending Bill On June 25, The House Appropriations interior subcommittee took only minutes to pass the $19.7 billion spending bill for public lands and energy programs for fiscal year 2003. The Interior Spending Bill boasts an increase of $116 million from the 2002 budget and more than the President Bush had requested. With the approval of the bill comes approximately $1.4 million for nature conservation-- increasing the funding for national parks and forests. With an eye on the massive fires still burning in Colorado and Arizona, the subcommittee also boosted funding for the U.S. National Fire Plan to $2.2 billion in 2003. That's about $246 million more than Bush had sought. Most of the extra money will go to wildfire preparedness, forest restoration, and state and community assistance efforts. To read about the House Interior Appropriations Bill, click to http://www.house.gov/appropriations/news/107_2/03milconfloor.htm *Network for Good and Wildfire ReLeaf "Network for Good," a collaborative effort to help nonprofits increase capacity, reach new audiences, and build Internet strategies recently included AMERICAN FORESTS on their website as a nonprofit resource in their "Help Wildfire Victims" section. In addition to the nonprofit resources found at Network for Good, citizens can donate through the site, volunteer, and speak out on issues they care about. The Wildfire site includes links that allows citizens to volunteer on Emergency Response Teams, learn more about wildfire through the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) site, and donate to restore forests through AMERICAN FORESTS' Wildfire ReLeaf site. You can visit the Network for Good site by clicking to http://www.networkforgood.org/channels/animal_environ/wildfires/ or you can donate dollars directly to AMERICAN FORESTS by visiting http://www.wildfirereleaf.org * Save the Environment and on Internet Expenses Now more than ever, it’s important to show your support for AMERICAN FORESTS so that forests like those devistated by fire out West, won't be lost forever. Simply by using EcoISP as your email and Internet Service Provider, you can show your commitment to the environment, save money, and stay connected to an online community that shares your concern about wildlife and wild places. EcoISP is the World's only internet provider that gives directly back to the environment. Fifty percent of the profits from your subscription go towards the environment charity of your choice. To find out more information about AMERICAN FORESTS and EcoISP click to http://www.ecoisp.com ********************* ARE YOU A MEMBER??************************ You can do your part to help the environment today by joining AMERICAN FORESTS. Not only are 25 trees planted for you in a damaged ecosystem or forest restoration project, but you will also receive: - A free subscription to our quarterly magazine - A free Big Trees calendar - A window decal Join Today! Visit http://www.americanforests.org/ ***************************************************************** == GLOBAL RELEAF ========================= The Texas Lone Star Land Steward Award Goes to... The Greenwood Ranch, part of Global ReLeaf's Red River County project, has received the 2002 Texas Lone Star Land Steward Award. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department award the prize annually to Texas landowners who use ecologically sound land management practices. Greenwood’s J.W. Smith, Jr, Roberta Smith, Cristine Smith-Morgan and Will Smith III were given the award for the Post Oak Ecological Region. J.W. Smith, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University, has set aside his entire 1,788-acre property for conservation efforts. Working with AMERICAN FORESTS and other partners, he has created wetlands and replanted native hardwoods to restore crucial wildlife habitat. He also has been influential in the founding of wildlife management associations in the surrounding area. "Receiving the recognition was truly an honor," Smith said. "My family and I personally thank AMERICAN FORESTS for their continued conservation assistance. Without cost-share assistance from organizations such as AMERICAN FORESTS it would not be possible for private landowners without adequate personal funds, such as us, to properly conduct habitat restoration." To plant trees through Global ReLeaf, visit: https://www.amfor.org/newforms/treesself.php3 == ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS AND FEATURES FROM ENN.COM ================= * "Dry Colorado Once Hosted Rainforest, Study Shows" http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/06/06282002/reu_47676.asp * "New York Settles for Trees in Idling Trucks Pact " http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/06/06192002/reu_47587.asp ______________________________________ ForestBytes ______________ Don't forget to forward this information to friends or colleagues. FEEDBACK OR OTHER ASSISTANCE: mailto:forestbytes@amfor.org PLANT TREES WITH AMERICAN FORESTS: http://www.americanforests.org/global_releaf/ BECOME A MEMBER OF AMERICAN FORESTS: http://www.americanforests.org/membership/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.americanforests.org AMERICAN FORESTS People Caring for Trees and Forests since 1875. _________________________________________________________________