Showing posts with label Community Tree Planting Weekend:. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community Tree Planting Weekend:. Show all posts

Friday, February 13, 2015

Forests and the Environment

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 295-365

Most of us understand intellectually that we are connected to each other and our fate is tied to our planet. But now that we have the means and knowledge to effect change: we have to act. 
We have already found many of the answers we need from the natural world. The process of changing the Earth back into a place that can support us is well underway. Progress is being made and there is reason to be optimistic.
The more we do: the more the Earth will help rebuild and regenerate itself. What is needed is a concerted effort. This isn’t a challenge that just a few countries or world leaders can fix on their own: it is going to take all of us, acting in large, and small.

Widespread But Deadly Eco-Myths

  • Ecosystems always recover  This myth is fairly common, and I hear it uttered out-loud essentially every time I mention that we are currently seeing an extinction rate roughly 1000x the normal background rate. The fact of the matter is that an ecosystem, like all systems, tries to remain in its current state; resisting change (we call this resilience). But, this only works until a certain point.
  • Ecosystems react to change and damage linearly: an ounce of pollution equals an ounce of damage. ecosystems work in terms of stable states (so tipping points) and not linearly in regard to change. 
  • Humans have this under control: the governments and companies will fix it. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be much further from the truth. In a huge governmental multi-department meta-analysis „Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Ecosystem Services: Technical Input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment. Cooperative Report to the 2013 National Climate Assessment,” it is admitted that managers, planners, and politicians are not coordinating or seeking counsel from scientists or experts
  • No matter how many other species die: it won’t affect us. This is the adult version of the “I’m not listening, I’m not listening” defense we see small children use when confronted with unfriendly information. Pretending that humans are “above” and independent of nature is part of the reason we are facing such serious problems right now, and part of the reason humans are failing to react to the emergencyFar from being “immune” from the mass extinction taking place around us, we are actually highly dependent on the ecosystems we live in. Costanza et 2014 al’s meta-analysis found that we are losing approximately $4-$20 trillion a year in ecosystem services (so services that we would otherwise have to provide ourselves: clean air, water etc). Even before a full biosphere collapse, we are losing more value every year than what proponents of the “move to Mars” theory propose could actually let us stabilize our biosphere.

We have never faced a crisis this big, that we have never had better ideas to solve. This is our only home. We can choose today to make a world of difference.”


Annual Community Tree Planting Weekend in Ontario Canada

Forests Ontario planted nearly three million trees in 2013, with the ultimate goal of supporting the planting of 10 million trees per year.

The community that plants together, grows together! The annual Community Planting Weekend takes place during the first weekend of May. It brings together families, community members and volunteers to take part in a half-day tree planting activity, promoting local engagement and environmental awareness.
This family-friendly event offers participants the chance to directly support their community in a local reforestation project and learn about the benefits of trees, shade and green urban spaces.
The events are held rain or shine and participants are asked to bring a shovel, gardening gloves and a lot of energy! Trees Ontario and its partners supply the rest - the trees, forestry specialists, mulch and snacks. Appropriate outdoor clothing, sturdy shoes (steel toe if possible), a hat and sunscreen are recommended.

7th Annual Community Tree Planting Weekend: Saturday, May 2nd, 2015


For more information please contact the office at 1-877-646-1193.

Heritage Tree Initiative in Ontario












What is a Heritage Tree?

  • A notable specimen because of its size, form, shape, beauty, age, colour, rarity, genetic constitution or other distinctive features;
  • A living relic that displays evidence of cultural modification by Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal people, including strips of bark or knot-gree wood removed, test hole cut to determine soundness, furrows cut to collect pitch or sap, or blazes to mark a trail;
  • A prominent community landmark;
  • A specimen associated with a historic person, place, event or period;
  • A representative of a crop grown by ancestors and their successors that is at risk of disappearing from cultivation;
  • A tree associated with local folklore, myths, legends, or traditions.




What is the Heritage Tree Program?

  • The Heritage Tree Program identifies and records the location of heritage trees as well as details such as age, size, appearance and most importantly their cultural and historical significance. The stories and photos of recognized trees are then featured on the Forests Ontario website.
  • In addition, the identification of these trees enables Forests Ontario and community-minded organizations to locate potential native seed sources. Collecting these seeds will ensure the succession planting of legacy trees for future generations to enjoy.
  • Anyone is invited to nominate a tree for Heritage Tree recognition, whether it is located on their own property, a friend or family member's property or in a public space.

Links

http://www.exposingtruth.com/morgan-freeman-understands-whats-going/#ixzz3Rez9505H 


http://www.exposingtruth.com/educating-8-eco-myths/#ixzz3Rf0226lh 

http://www.forestsontario.ca/index.php/green_leaders