Forest Bytes - March, 2004

Two artists pose at the OK Harris Gallery in New York, New York with a Danby refrigerator featuring their artwork.

Is the General Sherman giant sequoia still the biggest? American Forests is getting ready to announce the 2004/2005 National Register of Big Trees.

Planting trees can help absorb harmful emissions produced by cars and other vehicles contributing to global warming and climate change.

It's all in the rings! By looking at tree rings, scientists can see changes in the climate.

American Forests March Feature Creature: The Northern Forests

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

Nation's Biggest Trees to Be Announced
American Forests is gearing up to release the 2004/2005 National Register of Big Trees, a species-by-species listing of the largest trees in the United States.
[Whole Story]

Free Web-based Tool Reveals Importance of DC's Trees
A fast, free look at the ecosystem services provided by the DC metro area's urban forest is now available with the click of a mouse. American Forests' interactive, web-based Urban Ecosystem Analysis (UEA) is available here.
[Whole Story]

Update: Artists for a Cool Planet
"Cool!" "Hip!" "Chic!" Not your usual description of refrigerators, but the models on display at a New York art gallery recently were anything but run of the mill.
[Whole Story]

W H A T ' S H A P P E N I N G?

Biggest Electric Companies Take Responsibilty for Greenhouse Emissions
Electric power giants American Electric Power and Cinergy have agreed to report publicly on their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions, according to Environmental News Service.
[Whole Story]

Trees are Becoming Nature's Climate Records
Did you know trees can record changes in our climate? Each year a tree forms a new layer of tissue called a ring; its width reflects that year's growth conditions. A wide ring indicates faster growth or good conditions; a narrow ring, slower growth and poorer conditions.
[Whole Story]

Is Our Climate Near the Tipping Point?
According to the Environmental News Service, a report released by the Pentagon argues that global warming is a greater threat to world security than terrorism and predicts a warming future where "disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life."
[Whole Story]

Climate Change Around the World
What share of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change come from China? How much have India's emissions changed over the last decade? How does energy use in Europe compare to that of the United States?
[Whole Story]

Cost of Global Warming: 1 Million Species
According to a new report, more than one-third of all species in several regions of the world are at risk of extinction by 2050 if global warming isn't controlled, an international study reports.
[Whole Story]

A C T I V I T E S A N D L I N K S

American Forests' Feature Creature: The Northern Forests
A bit of an unusual choice for a feature creature this month, the Northern Forests are a commonly overlooked group of species. Thanks to global warming, as the Earth heats up, many tree species will have to migrate northward at a speed 10 times greater than they have moved in the past—and do it while sidestepping cities and other impediments that people have put in their way.
[Whole Story]

Tree Trivia

Question: How do trees help prevent drastic climate changes?

A) Trees emit oxygen and water vapor into the atmosphere.
B) Trees absorb harmful pollutants.
C) Trees clean water and regulate water cycles.
D) All of the above.

For the facts click here

If you answer correctly, by emailing us at forestbytes@amfor.org, you will be automatically included in the monthly drawing to win a tree! One lucky winner will receive a Historic Tree (species depends on your local climate) from American Forests' Historic Tree Nursery. Make sure you include your phone number and email address please!

Last Month's Question: This tree was used by Native Americans to make totem poles, canoes, baskets and fishing nets. The tree is called:

Last Month's Answer: C) western redcedar - Congratulations to Richard Trojan!

Interesting Fact: 1998 and 2001 were the hottest on record for the United States. In Connecticut alone, between 30 and 60 percent of maple-dominated hardwood forests could gradually be replaced by warm-climate forests because of rising temperatures due to climate change.

ENS and ENN News Links
Prominent Speakers to Address North American Forest Certification Conference