I. Announcements

• A New Tool to Fight Wildfire
• Bristlecone Pine Takes "Oldest" Title
• Trees To Clean and Cool New Jersey Cities
• Clouds Retreat from Appalachian Forests

II. What's Happening?

• Epcot Garden Festival Hosts "Tree Guy" Jeff Meyer
• Northern Spotted Owl Population Drops
• Poll Finds Decline in Environmental Concern
• News Updates and Reader Comments-- Earth Day Contest Winner!

III. Activities and Links

• American Forests' Feature Creature: Coho Salmon
• Tree Trivia
• Environmental News from ENS-news.com

A New Tool to Fight Wildfire

Scientists at the University of Rochester in New York are developing a new tool that could help the U.S. Forest Service identify and locate wildfires as small as eight to 12 inches around from an altitude of 10,000 feet. Funded by a $1.4 million grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the scientists are preparing to test a prototype of their new remote sensing system.

The tool is a multispectral mapping system, which means it combines infrared and high-resolution digital mapping cameras with a geographic positioning system, and uses specially written software to operate the cameras and collect and interpret the data. The suite of cameras will be mounted on a pointing mechanism on an aircraft allowing the cameras to snap images as they pivot back and forth. Automated software will stitch the images into a mosaic to detect the presence of a fire. Three infrared cameras will detect heat while a digital camera maps the terrain. The combination of cameras will allow the USDA Forest Service to reliably detect fires even under bright sunlight, which normally reduces effectiveness.

Although a smoldering tree stump might seem relatively innocuous, it can act as a kind of time-delay fuse to start a major fire. After a lightning strike, the most common cause of forest fires, a stump can smolder harmlessly for days. But if a strong wind comes up, embers can jump to nearby trees or underbrush, causing fire to spread quickly through a forest.

The system might not be ready to help the Forest Service during this year's wildfire season, the test system will likely be installed on an aircraft in June.

During the wildfire season this year, you can read ForestBytes for the latest updates about wildfires across the United States. American Forests' Wildfire ReLeaf program continues this year after planting thousands of trees in wildfire-damaged areas last year. Drought conditions and poor forest management contributed to last year's devastating wildfire season, which burned nearly 7 million acres of forest.

To learn more about American Forests' Wildfire ReLeaf program, visit www.wildfirereleaf.org or click here to support Wildfire ReLeaf. Every dollar plants two trees thanks to a matching grant from the USDA Forest Service!

Bristlecone Pine Takes "Oldest" Title

At 4,600+ years old, the oldest living bristlecone pine, named "Methuselah," began to sprout just as the Great Sphinx of ancient Egypt was being built. Today, that bristlecone pine can be found in California's White Mountains.

One even older was lost not long after it was discovered. In 1964, a researcher searching for evidence of Ice Age glaciers in the Southwest was taking core samples from some bristlecones in Nevada. To get an accurate measurement, he cut the tree down!

Named Prometheus, the tree turned out to 4,950+ years old, the oldest known living thing on the planet. Prometheus was likely the oldest tree in the world even when the United States won its independence. To his horror, the scientist had not only found the oldest living creature on the planet, but he had also killed it. A cross-section of that tree is on view at the Great Basin visitor center.

Harsh living conditions have made the bristlecone pine a survivor. Typically, bristlecones are only about 30 feet high, short by tree standards. The trees grow at the top of the tree line at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The soil is rocky, and the climate is generally windy and cold with snowfall sometimes as late as July. The tree trunks are gnarled and look polished from thousands of years of wind whipping around them and stripping the bark. At first glance, the trees may appear to be dead and often only have a few living branches. The green needles live up to 40 years.

Hikers can view three bristlecone pine tree groves at Great Basin National Park, but the location of Methuselah is not publicized for its protection.

Methuselah is not only the world's oldest tree; it is the world's biggest bristlecone pine. Due to its age and mystery, Methuselah is most certainly the oldest of America's historic trees. Did you know that American Forests is keeping a record of the nation's oldest and most historic trees? American Forests is looking for nominations for our National Register of Historic Trees. A historic tree is a tree that stands at a place where an event of historic significance occurred that had local, regional, or national importance; or at the home of a citizen who is famous on a local, regional, or national basis. A tree may also be considered historic if it has taken on a legendary stature to the community; mentioned in literature or documents of historic value; considered unusual due to size, age or has landmark status.

The National Register of Historic Trees, to be published by Crown Publishing. American Forests is now accepting nominations. You can nominate a tree by clicking to http://www.historictrees.org/Nominate/Nominate.asp.

Trees To Clean and Cool New Jersey Cities

Two new urban studies further confirm the finding that trees can both significantly cool urban areas and clean the air by absorbing pollution.

The studies, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), examined "urban heat islands" surrounding the New Jersey cities of Newark and Camden and explored various measures to mitigate their adverse effects.

In hot weather, the air in urban areas is often hotter than that in surrounding areas. This effect is called a "heat island." As buildings and pavements absorbing the sun's rays, they trap the heat instead of reflecting. The studies found that the average air temperature in Newark can be as much as 11 degrees higher than its suburbs. In Camden, the temperature can top that of surrounding areas by as much as six degrees.

"These two cities generate unneeded heat, which is not only unpleasant, it can have real health consequences for urban residents and for the environment," EPA Regional administrator Jane Kenny said in a recent Environmental News Network story. "The good news is that there is a relatively simple and economical solution-- plant trees."

New Jersey Governor James McGreevey has launched an initiative to plant 100,000 new trees in the state's urban and suburban communities.

New Jersey officials know that planting more trees is a long-term solution, but there are some short-term measures that can be taken to reduce the urban heat island effects, such as using more efficient cooling systems and using lighter colored or more reflective surfaces on buildings, roofs, and streets.

The New Jersey studies note that trees serve numerous purposes, from providing shade from the sun, absorbing carbon dioxide, and filtering out pollutants from the air. Trees excrete droplets of water that draw heat as they evaporate, cooling the air. Trees also absorb sound, prevent erosion, and provide habitat for birds and animals.

"Trees also provide an attractive canopy for urban areas, making communities more attractive to business and tourism, transforming a neighborhood's appearance and increasing home market value, as they bring nature closer to where we live and work," says New Jersey DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell.

American Forests recently conducted an analysis of the Philadelphia area's tree cover, including the city of Camden. The results show that the area is short about 46 million trees.

The Urban Forest Center at American Forests has conducted 22 urban ecosystem analyses that can be viewed at http://www.americanforests.org/resources/rea/. Plus, you can register online for American Forests' 2003 National Urban Forest Conference, September 17-20, 2003, at the Adams Mark Hotel along the scenic River Walk in San Antonio, Texas.

Engineering Green is the theme of this year's conference. Engineering Green will showcase ways that cities can build according to nature's laws and rise above the financial, ecological, and social tides of urban growth.

American Forests' website is a one-stop shop for all your conference needs. You can peruse the program sessions (Schedule at a Glance); read detailed descriptions of the program, tours, and workshops; register on-line; and revisit your account to make changes if needed. Sign up to exhibit and receive a complimentary registration.

Visit our site at http://www.americanforests.org/conference/ and check back frequently for updates!

For conference questions, contact: Donna Tschiffely, registration coordinator, donna@amfor.org or call: 703-904-7240. See you in September.

Clouds Retreat from Appalachian Forests

It may not seem like much of a problem, but cloud levels are rising around the Appalachian Mountains, a change that could contribute to the loss of trees.

Scientists at Yale University have recorded that the cloud level around the mountains has risen 180 meters in the past 30 years, according to a study by the university.

If the trend continues, the region's evergreen forests could eventually disappear. The scientists at Yale compared data from 24 airports which routinely measure cloud ceiling levels for pilots. Urbanization and deforestation have resulted in warmer air lowland temperatures in the region. Clouds form where warm air hits cold mountain air. But the extra temperature difference has pushed the cloud boundary up higher. The rising cloud base is likely to force evergreen trees that depend on airborne moisture farther up the mountain, fundamentally altering the area's habitat.

Did you know about American Forests' Personal Climate Change Calculator? Visit http://www.americanforests.org/resources/ccc/ to calculate your every day effect on climate change.

Epcot Garden Festival Hosts "Tree Guy" Jeff Meyer

Come join American Forests at the 10th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in Orlando, Florida, through June 8.

On May 30 and 31, American Forests' Historic Tree Nurseryman Jeff Meyer will take visitors through America's history as told by its trees. You'll also learn how to grow the country's greatest trees right in your own backyard. For more information about the Festival, visit Disney's Website.

Northern Spotted Owl Population Drops

It's been a month since we first told you about the plight of the spotted owl, but the population in Washington state continues to drop. Forest Service experts say that despite federal efforts to protect the threatened species the number of spotted owls dropped by 5 percent to 8 percent annually between 1992 and 2002, even though the Forest Service tightened logging practices on public lands nearly a decade ago.

The 1994 Northwest Forest Plan revamped logging practices on federal lands to protect the 18-inch-long owl. While spotted owl populations appear to be stable in Oregon, their decline in Washington state is occurring on both sides of the Cascades, in national parks and on state and private land.

Dale Herter, a biologist for Plum Creek Timber Co., reported a sharp decline in owl populations since 1992 on Plum Creek lands west of the Cascades--even in areas with no significant differences in suitable habitat.

According to Forest Service experts, at least three factors are contributing to the slide: barred owls have forced the spotted owl from much of its natural habitat; many spotted owls may have starved after a record snowpack in 1999; and timber harvesting on private land is reducing habitat.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to finish a status review by the end of the year that could lead to a recommendation that the owl be listed as endangered.

Poll Finds Decline in Environmental Concern

Gallup's annual Environment/Earth Day poll unearthed a disconnect between concern for the environment and support for further measures to protect it. The annual poll found that Americans have grown more negative over the past year about the quality of the environment in the United States. However, those surveyed were less likely to favor aggressive action to correct environmental problems.

According to Gallup, which surveyed a random selection of just over 1,000 American adults, aged 18 and older in March about the environment, this disconnect appears to be the result of heightened concern about the U.S. economy. The percentage of Americans holding a negative view of the nation's environmental conditions increased from 38 percent in 2002 to 47 percent this year. But Gallup says one of the "most striking findings" in the poll came from a question that asked Americans whether environmental protection or economic growth should be given priority when the two interests conflict.

This year, results show the lowest percentage ever chooses environmental protection. Gallup began asking the question in 1984. Only 47 percent of those surveyed said protection of the environment should be given priority, with 42 percent in favor of economic growth taking priority. In last year's poll, 54 percent were found to be in favor of the environment and 36 percent for economic growth, but through much of the 1990s Gallup says the public sided with the environment over the economy by more than a two-to-one margin.

Compared to last year, the percentage of Americans who believe either "immediate, drastic action" or "some additional action" is needed to prevent major environmental disruptions fell from 84 percent to 79 percent.

American Forests would like to thank all our ForestBytes readers for having a steady interest in the environment and issues relating to trees and forests. Thanks for your support!

News Updates and Reader Comments-- Earth Day Contest Winner!

Since we first brought you the story about the lynx in January's "Feature Creature" story we have an update. A federal judge has ruled that the Interior Department improperly applied the Endangered Species Act when it listed the lynx as merely threatened, not endangered. The judge restricted federal activities in the lynx range until critical habitat for the species is designated.

To read the American Forests' story click to http://www.americanforests.org/forestbytes/012003_inside.php#l1.

American Forests first told you about a drawing on Earth Day for a free 6-foot seedling from the Historic Tree Nursery. Over 250 people wrote in with the answer to the March ForestBytes question about the General Sherman Giant Sequoia, but only one person won. The winner of a Historic Tree Nursery seedling of their choice (climate depending) is Jean Bae of Washington, D.C. Congratulations!

We also drew to other names for prizes. Marc Susser from Arlington, Virginia won Jeff Meyer's book titled "America's Famous and Historic Trees," which features the history of famous trees all over America.

Kathryn Hanzl of Providence, New Jersey, will receive a historic tree seed kit from American Forests. Ten others will receive Earth Day blue spruce seedlings!

Thanks to everyone who participated. Since we have received a large response from our readers, we've decided to continue the contest for every month. To guess the answer to the Tree Trivia question, email us at info@amfor.org

American Forests' Feature Creature: Coho Salmon

Planting more trees may be the only hope for threatened species such as this coho salmon.

The coho salmon is joining the marbled murrelet and the Northern spotted owl as a grim reminder of the ongoing destruction of our coastal forest ecosystem. Activists are uniting across the Pacific Northwest to protect and restore the forest habitat, which once supported magnificent runs of salmon. One hundred years of managing strictly for resource extraction has failed the coho. This failure to protect salmon habitat has been a disaster.

Coho are dependent on cool, clear, sustained flows and the stable structural elements of streams in old-growth forests. The causes for the decline in coastal coho population include degradation of habitat due to loss of streamside vegetation, filling of wetlands, decline in water quality of small streams, adverse competition from hatchery-grown coho salmon, and inadequate regulatory mechanisms.

One of California's five best wild, naturally spawning coho salmon runs faces extinction from the potential logging of the pristine forests surrounding the Mattole River in northern California’s Humboldt County. Residents have been working for more than twenty years to restore this and adjacent creeks through upslope and riparian restoration, community education, and reforestation.

To help restore the forests surrounding the coho's river habitat, American Forests is planting approximately 14,000 mixed hardwood seedlings of Douglas-fir, big leaf maple, buckeye, Oregon ash, and pepperwood. Diversifying and increasing the riparian canopy is expected to enhance salmon habitat by reducing summertime water temperatures, providing long-term bank stability, increasing recruitment of future large woody debris, and enhancing water quality.

To find out how you can help plant trees to restore this, and other ecosystems across the United States, visit http://www.americanforests.org/global_releaf/ or click here to plant trees online.

Question: What was the name and age of the oldest tree ever recorded?:
A) Sasqwatch, 4,500 +
B) Joshua Tree, 6,800 +
C) Prometheus, 4,950 +
D) Pegasus, 4,800 +

Fun Fact: The black walnut, which the Indians of the Delaware Valley called the "round nut tree," was roasted over the fire, tied into small bundles, and boiled to create a strong tea for intestinal problems.

Answer to the April question: Ginkgo Biloba. If you answered correctly, you have been automatically included in the May drawing to win a tree! One lucky winner will receive a Historic Tree seedling (species depends on your local climate) from American Forests' Historic Tree Nursery.

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/

Don't forget to forward this information to friends or colleagues.

FEEDBACK OR OTHER ASSISTANCE:
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PLANT TREES WITH American Forests:
http://www.americanforests.org/global_releaf/

BECOME A MEMBER OF American Forests: http://www.americanforests.org/membership/

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