Climate Change and Trees

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So What does this have to do with Trees?
Trees take carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it in their biomass as they grow. Planting trees--or preventing the destruction of existing trees--will reduce the "net emissions" of an individual or organization. For the facts see http://www.americanforests.org/corp/backnum.html#more
http://www.americanforests.org/corp/backnum.html

Concerned about YOUR part in this scenario?

Individual consumers play a big role. When we use electricity, drive our cars, or heat our homes, we are using energy and causing carbon dioxide to be released.

Use our worksheet to estimate how much carbon dioxide your household causes to be released into the atmosphere. Go to:
http://www.americanforests.org/climate/amforcalc.html

Then see how you can go "carbon neutral" by planting trees on line.
http://www.americanforests.org/programs/plant.html
"No Regrets" Strategy Global ReLeaf tree planting projects offer a credible, low cost approach to offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, but they also incorporate a combination of local benefits that are independent of climate change. This makes tree planting an important part of a prudent corporate plan, because it doesn't rely on climate change scenarios to have value to the company.

Forests:
· Provide habitat for a majority of the world's species
· Purify water and regulate hydrological cycles
· Conserve topsoil by preventing erosion
· Improve air quality by filtering particulate matter
· Improve quality of life through aesthetic and recreational benefits

American Forests has developed domestic and international projects to produce measureable carbon sequestration benefits. Advantages of these projects include:
· Simple, high-impact approach to investing in environmental improvement
· Research consistently shows tree planting is widely supported by the public as a constructive and valuable action
· Significant and measurable impact on local and global priorities
· Proven vehicle for communicating corporate environmental philosophy
· Flexible and expandable programs
· Can be connected to marketing efforts, consumer participation

Why are corporations involved?
Global Climate Change will have a major impact on the way we do business as individuals and corporations. Whether these impacts are due to changes in weather patterns or the mitigation policies that governments adopt, the connection to energy means everyone will be affected.

As the public looks to the business sector to take a leadership role in addressing climate change, many companies are beginning to inventory their emissions and consider reduction strategies. Objectives may include:

· To enhance the corporate policy voice on climate isues
· To demonstrate leadership in a nationally important issue
· To distinguish a brand as environmentally preferable
· To develop organizational experience in tracking and reducing emissions in anticipation of future emissions restrictions
· To support environmental projects in communities of interest

Tree Planting Opportunities

Corporations like Mobil have become partners in the Global ReLeaf program to strengthen their emission reduction efforts by supporting tree planting projects that provide significant reductions to net emissions while achieving other desirable ecological and social benefits.

Global ReLeaf Forests
American Forests launched the Global ReLeaf Forests program in 1990 to provide a simple, constructive opportunity for environmental improvement. The program plants a tree for every dollar received--over 7 million trees so far! Trees are planted in professionally designed and implemented forest restoration projects, designed to provide a full range of forest benefits including habitat, soil stabilization, and watershed protection. The program is supported by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Global ReLeaf Forests, designed first and foremost to restore damaged forests, provide greenhouse gas offset benefits at an approximate rate of 1 ton of carbon for every 12 trees planted. American Forests calculates and reports on this impact to the Energy Information Administrationhttp://www.amfor.org/press/1605rep.html every year. See our press release to learn more. Many corporations have supported the Global ReLeaf program over the years to improve local environments and invest in community well-being. The new benefit of carbon emissions mitigation provides a strong additional incentive for corporate partners.

Climate ReLeaf

American Forests is offering a new mechanism for sequestering carbon on private non-industrial lands. The project will leverage private support, offer a turn-key mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporate important ecological and economic benefits at the local level.

Climate ReLeaf responds to the fact that there are 116 million acres of marginal crop and pasture land in the U.S. that can be used for tree planting with the proper financial and technical assistance.

Planting trees on these lands represents one of the most significant opportunities in the U.S. for reducing national carbon emissions while meeting local environmental and economic objectives. Nationwide, this strategy alone could offset up to 9 percent of U.S. anthropogenic emissions. American Forests has develop arrangements with state forestry agencies to support tree planting on private lands. These agencies will work with American Forests to solicit and evaluate proposals from private non-industrial landowners; secure agrements that ensure appropriate planting and management; and monitor planting projects. Landowners will sign agreements to convey future carbon "credits" to investors.

Urban Tree Planting
American Forests is the worldwide leader in valuing the "services" of urban trees. Trees in communities help manage stormwater, improve air quality, and both avoid and offset greenhouse gas emissions. They avoid emissions by lowering ambient temperatures (which reduces the need for air conditioning) and shading compressors to make them run more efficiently. And of course they sequester carbon as they grow. American Forests can measure this impact with our CITYgreen software.

American Forests has a network of hundreds of local Global ReLeaf tree planting partners throughout the country. We can work with these partners to develop and implement urban tree planting projects with funding from corporate partners. Qualifications American Forests is uniquely positioned to help corporations seeking to complement their emission reduction activities with carbon sequestration projects. · We are the oldest national citizen conservation group in the U.S. · We have a history of strong corporate partnerships · We have been researching the relationship between forests and climate change for over 8 years · We are the world-wide leader in understanding the energy and climate impacts of urban forests · We have developed GIS software for analyzing urban trees and forests · We have provided technical guidance on forestry projects to NGO's and governments in other countries through the U.S. Country Studies Program · We have a network of over 20 partner organizations in countries throughout the world · We have planted over 7 million trees, both domestically and internationally For more information about climate change and Global ReLeaf tree planting projects, please contact Bob Leipold, Director of Development, by email, or call 202/955-4500 ext 210.