Hurricanes Devastated Forest Benefits

A research team from Tulane University has recently estimated that as vegetation damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita breaks down, approximately 100 million tons of carbon will be released into the atmosphere. This amount is equal to the carbon that all the trees in the U.S. extract yearly from the atmosphere. 

In addition to carbon emissions, the loss of trees has allowed in aggressive exotic species, which grow quickly to invade open spaces where native trees once stood. Invasive trees such as the Chinese tallow hamper the natural regeneration of trees that grow slowly, including oaks and maples. 

American Forests has a designated Katrina ReLeaf Fund to plant native trees in regions affected by the hurricane. Planting trees for Katrina will help to neutralize the carbon effects of the disaster, restore natural ecosystems and return a sense of normalcy to people and communities.  Click here plant trees for Katrina.

Gifts Cards For Trees says it wants to make the world a more beautiful and healthier place. With the number of gift cards given every year increasing, founder Michelle Sarkany says, “maybe we can all step back and think about what we really want. What better way to beautify our world than by using unwanted gift cards to help plant trees and make a real difference in our environment.”

Visit GiftCardsForTrees.com to complete a form, print it, and mail it to them with your gift cards. Or visit their website to learn more about planting trees at American Forests with Gift Cards For Trees. Whether you're interested in reducing your carbon footprint or just want to make the world a more beautiful and greener place, helping plant trees is a great way to start.

That followed Linkin Park and its nonprofit Music For Relief’s planting of a tree for each ticket sold for its summer 07 concert tour. Linkin Park and Music For Relief recently announced they would once again plant a tree for every ticket sold for the band’s European and U.S. tours this year.

Now, Underground, the band’s official fan club, has joined forces with Music For Relief to plant 100,000 trees through American Forests’ Global ReLeaf Forests. LP Underground made the contribution to Music For Relief on behalf of its fan club members; Music For Relief had fans vote on the cause they thought would make the most difference to the environment. The fans chose planting trees with American Forests.

Those 100,000 trees will help absorb CO2 at a rate of 13 pounds per tree per year. That in turn will help restore wildfire-damaged areas by filtering water, removing air pollution, sequestering carbon, and providing homes for wildlife. For more about Music For Relief or LP Underground, check their websites: www.musicforrelief.org or www.lpunderground.com. You can join Linkin Park in contributing to Global ReLeaf: www.americanforests.org

Anne Frank Tree Saved

According to the website, a design has been created for a flexible structure that will hold the trunk in place if it breaks or tips over. The structure will not touch the tree, though, and so should guarantee public safety but not affect growth. The Support Anne Frank Tree Foundation has taken responsibility for implementing these measures. In addition, a long-term plan will be drawn up to monitor the tree's condition in the years to come. News that the tree was to be cut down drew widespread opposition and an Amsterdam judge ordered all possible options must be considered to save the tree.

Anne Frank saw the tree from the attic where her family hid from the Nazi's and mentioned it in her famous diary, marking the passage of time by the tree's seasonal changes. The tree is considered a a symbol of freedom. As the national organization of record on Historic Trees, American Forests sent a letter of support to the city of Amsterdam urging that all efforts should be made to save the tree.

Climate Change Security Concerns

Report author Chris Abbott told Reuters News Service that governments need to develop policy solutions for police, security services, and the military to help them adapt to changing demands. “Governments’ responses to global warming could give rise to militant environmental groups using terror tactics to make their points,” Planet Ark quoted the report as saying. For more info go to Planet Ark