Author: Site Owner

By Melanie Friedel, American Forests

There’s no such thing as “too smart,” and when it comes to the environment and climate change, knowledge is endless, as are the opportunities to contribute! So even if you’re no Rachel Carson, it’s worth it to read up on what’s going on around you and speak up about it. Check out this simple guide to start your journey as an activist in the world of environmental action, protection and policy.

1. Know Your Stuff

Credit: Peter Clark

Start by asking questions. Then find the answers! There are always going to be opinions online, but before forming you own, it’s important to get the facts down. The library is a good option, but climate change is a very fast-paced issue, and some books might not be up to date. It might be a better idea to start online, but be careful where you look. Find a reliable website: something educational with credible authors and as much scientific content as you can absorb!

TIP: Explore forest facts and updates on the American Forests website! Read our blog, Loose Leaf, and articles from American Forests magazine and media releases. Our Science Advisory Board and Communications and Policy teams are paying close attention to everything new in the world of climate change to keep you in the loop. Looking for more options? The Society of Environmental Journalists keeps a running tracker of all the environmental headlines happening, world-wide.

2. Share That Stuff

Credit: Stefan Tell

Once you feel that you have a firm grasp on what’s going on, start spreading the word. Talk to your friends, family, teachers, students, colleagues and anyone else about what you’ve learned and why you think it’s important. And hey, see what they have to say too — there’s always room for more knowledge.

Social media is a great way to reach a lot of people and connect with others who share your goals. Whether it’s posting a photo on Instagram showing off the beauty of a scenic hiking route you’re walking, tweeting your thoughts on the latest policy move, or sharing a Facebook event for the People’s Climate March, make your voice heard!

Many people know about the larger picture climate change happening world-wide, but if you find out about things impacting your local environment, be sure to share it — you’ll be surprised how many people will show up to defend their homes.

3. Get Involved

Credit: Bob Dass

March! Volunteer! Join a club! Explore what’s going on in your community. If you’re a student, campuses are often loaded with activist clubs and are an easy way to meet people with your interests who will tell you about events and actions to take. But no matter where you are, you can get involved with a group that wants what you want: a healthy planet. There are endless opportunities to attend a march or be a guest or volunteer at an activist event — take advantage of these! All it takes is a Google search (such as “environmental groups near me”) and you’ll be on your way.

4. Contact Your Elected Officials

Credit: Giuseppe Zizza

You might think, “I’m just one person,” or “why would they listen to me?” Well, here’s why: your voice matters! Important policy is being made right now, and you can make a difference in whether that policy gets accepted or rejected. Believe it or not, there are thousands of others just like you calling your senators and representatives, and there is power in numbers. Your Congressmen are there to represent you, and how can they do that if they don’t know what you want? Here is a handy tool to find your local Congressman.

5. Support American Forests

Credit: Chuck Fazio, Artist in Residence

We are committed to protecting and restoring the environment 365 days a year, and have existed since 1875. We listen to our members and fight for the environment on their behalf: by joining our organization, you have a say in the future of the world around you. Let’s work together to save forests and the global environment that depends on them. Check out these ways to get involved with our work:

• Become a member online
• Donate towards our projects (read about them here!)
• Plant or gift a tree
• Join our Sequoia Circle
• Join the Evergreen Society
• Keep reading the site!

Every tree counts, as does every voice. Make yours heard today.

By Melanie Friedel, American Forests

I’m eight years old, sitting in Mrs. Brenner’s third grade class. As I look around, I see a Judy Moody or Harry Potter paperback on every desk — except for one. On one desk, there is a small, white handbook titled “ROCKS AND MINERALS.” That’s my desk.

I’m 10 years old, kicking off the summer after my fifth grade graduation, still fascinated by the natural world. I’m scoping out funky-looking rocks on the beach while everyone else plays in the water. I’m collecting broken robin eggs under the trees around my house and bringing them inside to examine with my dad.

Flash forward nine years to my sophomore year in college. I’m sitting in geology class doodling “geology rocks!” in my notebook with a giant chunk of graphite, chuckling to myself at the lame pun that my mineral-crazed, 8-year-old self would have loved. I’m lying in the grass on the quad, soaking in the beauty of the trees surrounding me and thinking back on the times I had years ago under this same sun with my dad: The delicate blue egg shells we collected, the geodes and crystals we grew in the driveway, and the planters we built on the porch for the mint and chive plants he let me pick from the local nursery.

They cut that nursery in half — knocked it down to expand the neighboring pharmacy. We’ve been there a few times since, but they don’t carry herbs anymore. I’ll never understand why they decided to shrink the nursery, to get rid of so many treasures, mysterious forces in each root and vein.

Our wooden planters are still sitting on our back porch, and no developer will ever be able to take those away from us. But beyond our back porch, plant nursery and herb garden, so much nature is being taken away, bulldozed, rezoned and killed — taking a little piece of me down with every tree.

There is no way to explain how I feel in the presence of nature. Curious. Amazed. Humbled. Connected. Peaceful. None of these words do it justice. Every leaf swaying gently from its stem, every tall tree standing calm and wise, holding the memories of hundreds of years of birds and squirrels and snakes who have made homes there for generations. Every ant carrying an important message that I’ll never know, every worm emerging from the earth before a rain, every blade of grass and crumb of dirt — each one of these plays a role in the world so much greater than itself. Each one responds to an innate urge to serve the world around it, however small one ant’s world may be. Each one has a story.

And I want mine to be the same.

I want to spend my life as a learner and a teacher for my friends, family and anyone else who will listen to me rant about bees and biodiversity, trees and trilobites, and how urgent it is that we work to conserve our planet. I don’t want to be above, I want to be a part of. I’m here at American Forests to do just that: to learn, to share, to educate, to excite, to promote and protect our forests — and behavior that will sustain them. In a healthy forest full of thriving birds, bugs, trees, and so many other breathtaking treasures of nature, one day, some other 8-year-old will find her purpose too.

By Mick Lundquist, American Forests

I am a huge believer in connecting to one’s roots and being able to spend time in nature. I will always be at home in nature, the hum of car engines and their foul exhaust is so foreign to me. I feel so rooted to nature because I grew up surrounded by forests — as soon as school was out I would kick my shoes off and run for the trees to find a place to escape. For me there is no better feeling than to be surrounded by crisp, fresh air, listening to the wind rustle the leaves of a cottonwood tree and the babble of the creek it calls home, or watching newly born grey squirrels chase each other in an endless spiral around the trunk of a Jack pine. It always takes me away from the hustle and bustle of work and school, breathing new life into me, which gives me energy and an appreciation for living in such a wonderful world.

Coming from Minnesota has its perks, one of which is the countless state parks and national forests nearby. My absolute favorite place in the world is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). In the BWCA it is just you; there is no cell phone service, no electricity, and no buzz of motorized vehicles. The only way to get there is by paddling from lake to lake in a canoe. I can remember my first time camping in the BWCA when I was six years old, and barely being able to hold the paddle over the side of the canoe to “help” bring us to our campsite.

Nothing beats waking up to the sound pine needles falling onto the top of my tent or hearing the beautiful silence on a clear summer night as thousands of stars peak through the tree tops. These little adventures are at the core for my love for wilderness and forests. It was when I learned that the BWCA is under the threat of highly destructive heavy-metal mining that I decided to make a stand.

Then I realized that it’s much larger than me, and much larger than the BWCA. Not everyone has the means to visit the wonderful forested areas that I have had. Most people in the United States live in an urban area, and that population will continue to grow. Instead of being surrounded by glorious stands of pine trees, they are stuck in valleys of steel and concrete. I knew that if I could change policy, I could help protect forests around the world, and share the opportunity to experience nature as I have — no matter what someone’s geographic location or circumstances may be.

That connection doesn’t need to be found far away from the reach of cities and their modern amenities. It can be found right in our backyards – if we make it happen. As our cities grow more and more there is an equally increasing need to protect the already existing urban forests that some see as standing in the path of expansion, along with a need to promote new tree growth within the city.

Forests are also so much more than just something pretty to look at. They have the unique capability of benefitting the health of the environment and the economy wherever they go. Don’t believe me? Their list of positive impacts is long, and growing every day. Trees are so much more than aesthetic appeal. We need them to not only live, but thrive.

As more and more forested land is lost to urbanization I feel compelled to save what I hold near and dear to me. My dedication to protecting the environment stems from seeing natural areas decimated every year by irresponsibly managed logging and mining companies. Working as an environmental advocate calls to me because I can follow my passion and create a lasting change for generations to come. This has brought me to American Forests. Their unique work will allow me to not only expand my own horizons, but will also allow me to show others how important it is to protect and promote forests in everyone’s backyards, so they too may find the same joy I have.

By Allie Wisniewski, American Forests

Brazil is a nation rich with biodiversity and vast expanses of vibrant greenery. Last year, American Forests and Alcoa Foundation partnered with the Vitoria Regia Institute for the first time, making major habitat recovery efforts in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, an area that has suffered notoriously from agricultural deforestation and poor timber harvesting techniques. This year, however, we are excited to share a new focus with you.

A yellow-fronted woodpecker, native to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Credit: Ben Tavener

Every day, bauxite ore is produced at the Juruti mine in Brazil. Every day, this ore is transported by train and car approximately 50 kilometers from the country’s interior to the coastal port — that’s no small feat. In 2017, the Vitoria Regia Institute is commencing phase two of their mission to offset their carbon emissions, and has teamed up with both American Forests and Alcoa Foundation to transform their goal into a reality.

Enter: The Green Locomotive Project. Studies of past efforts show that each native tree of the Atlantic Forest, on average, sequesters 315 kilograms of carbon over a 20 year period. By restoring tropical rainforest near Juruti and inventorying the sequestered carbon, the Institute hopes to reduce their footprint and turn their ore transport process carbon neutral. In the future, they aspire to extend this neutrality to the plant as a whole.

With the help of American Forests and Alcoa Foundation, the Vitoria Regia Institute is planting a whopping 30,000 seedlings in the tropical Juruti region in 2017. Leading the project in Brazil is Sheyla Costa de Oliveira, who boasts years of experience in seedling planting practices and agroforestry systems. Should the seedlings maintain a survival rate of 80% per year after planting, the project will successfully facilitate carbon sequestration equivalent to 6,000 tons in 20 years.

American Forests, in collaboration with Alcoa Foundation, is constantly striving to identify and cooperate with partners who seek to restore and protect environmentally troubled regions through reforestation. We’re so excited to be working with the Vitoria Regia Institute, and to help facilitate real change for the climate and the health of our planet.

This is the second project highlight out of a series of 11 projects we are conducting this year with Alcoa Foundation.

By Lindsey Miller-Voss, American Forests

The chance to share your love of the outdoors with your children is the perfect opportunity for some great family fun. Not only will it help them burn off some of their seemingly endless vacation energy, but it will also help them gain an appreciation for the importance of preserving and restoring natural spaces across the country. Here are some of our favorite places to find forest adventures with kids of all ages.

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Credit: Mick Thompson

Want your kids to feel like true alpine adventurers? Mount Rainier National Park is the place to head. First time trekkers will appreciate the one-mile Sourdough Ridge Trail, where they can enjoy classic snow-capped mountain views on a gentle trail, passing through fields of flowers. The park also offers several trails that are stroller friendly for those with smaller kiddos in tow. For more experienced families, there are a number of other day hikes to tackle. While picturesque in the summer, the fun isn’t limited to just sunny days. In the winter, Mount Rainier National Park offers winter camping for families and snowshoe adventures for kids ages 8 and up.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee & North Carolina

Credit: Steve Harwood

While Great Smoky Mountain National Park offers an incredible number of beautiful sites, including many waterfalls within short hiking distances, the most impressive feature of this park is its biodiversity. This massive 500,000 acre national park offers some of the richest biodiversity in America, making it a great place for children to meet nature face-to-face. While beautiful any time of year, the Great Smoky Mountains plays host to a nightly light show of insects for about ten days each June. These lightning bugs are the only species that can synchronize their light patterns to one another and the effect is captivating for kids of all ages! Make sure to stay the night so you can spend the next day discovering the park’s 30 species of salamanders, the world’s most diverse population, in one of the hands-on ranger led programs.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

Credit: Richie Diesterheft

A visit to Mount Rushmore provides a great opportunity to see an iconic part of Americana up close, while enjoying the beauty of the Black Hills. The kid-friendly Presidential Trail takes you closer to the action on a short, half-mile trek. On the way, you’ll even pass the studio where sculptor Gutzon Borglum worked.  This adventure offers the chance to throw in a history lesson on the way regarding the significance of each of the honored presidents. As you walk through the park on cool summer evenings, see if you can catch the sweet scent of Ponderosa pines. Some describe it as smelling like butterscotch! Mount Rushmore National Memorial is within easy driving distance of several other national parks, including Badlands and Devil’s Tower, so you can keep the outdoor family fun going.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Credit: Robert Shae

We know what you’re going to say, and while this isn’t technically a forest adventure, it is a great adventure to bring to life what kids are learning in school, inspire budding scientists, and build excitement over giant trees. While much of the wide expanses of this park can be a bit dull for younger kids, you can avoid this by getting out on the trails where they’re sure to become enamored by the trees now made of stone. A great hike for tiny feet is the Giant Logs Trail. Starting at the visitor center, this path is less than half a mile and leads to many of the largest, and most colorful logs in the park. This includes Old Faithful, which is nearly 10 feet wide at the base! When it’s time for a break indoors, the visitor center features dinosaur exhibits, which always prove to be a hit with little ones.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Credit: Andy Smith

You can thank John D. Rockefeller, Jr. for helping make Acadia National Park such a great place for families. He helped establish over 50 miles of “carriage roads”, broad gravel paths, which are now easily accessible by walkers, horseback riders, and even families with strollers! These paths pass throughout much of the park, including developed and more remote areas. Don’t want to hike this one? Consider biking the trails instead, bikes are easily rented in the nearby town and make for a lovely way to explore Mount Desert Island. As you ride, take time to stop and check out the 17 unique stone bridges scattered around the island. When you’re ready to relax, take part in one of the ranger-led boat tours which allow kids to get up close and personal with marine life!

Muir Woods National Monument, California

Credit: Miguel Vieira

Found on many bucket lists, nothing can prepare kids, or even adults, for how tiny you’ll feel strolling beneath the redwoods giants in Muir Woods National Monument. Soaring to over 250 feet tall, the average age of these trees is 600 to 800 years old. For younger hikers, there are easy, paved trails along the creek. This allows for some family-friendly configurations of half-mile to two-mile treks. Young kids will love the hollowed out old trees designed for climbing through and exploration. Older kids will enjoy tackling “Redwood Discovery: A Quest at Muir Woods,” a rhyming scavenger hunt put together by the park rangers. Sprinkled in amongst the redwoods are Douglas fir, maples, tanoaks, and red alders, rounding out the spectacular scenery.

Sierra Nevada Parks, California

Credit: Upsilon Andromedae/Flickr

Another place to get up close and personal with some giant trees is in California’s southern Sierra Nevada national parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Everything here is super-sized and kids will love seeing the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney, as well as the world’s tallest single-trunk tree, General Sherman. The largest attractions of the park are easily explored by car (make sure to drive through “Tunnel Log” on the way), but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out and explore on foot as well. There are over 200 marble caves ready to be discovered year round on family-friendly tours. Boyden Cavern might be small by global standards, but that makes it the perfect size for younger adventurers. The caves stay a cool 55 degrees year round, making them great escapes on a hot summer day.

Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

Credit: Kaylee Hawk

This Midwest vacation staple draws millions of visitors each year and for good reason. Cliffs, caves, and caverns are sprinkled throughout hemlock-shaded gorges covering an area over 2,000 acres. Hiking trails are plentiful and vary in length from the ¼ mile wheelchair and stroller friendly Gorge Trail to the 4-mile Rim Trail. Park staff lead numerous programs year round including wildlife talks and nighttime lantern tours. History runs deep in the region, and evidence of early humans is found among the sandstone and shale rock formation. Nearby canopy tours, canoeing, and horseback riding can round out your vacation experience for adventurous kiddos.

Everglades National Park, Florida

Credit: Daniel Hartwig

For a different type of forest experience, head south to Everglades National Park. While kids will enjoy traditional hiking and animal exploration, as well as ranger-led programs on a variety of topics, the water-ways are not to be missed! Rental kayaks and canoes allow for exploration of everything this park has to offer, including the massive labyrinth of mangrove tunnels. Island camping is a highlight that provides maximum family fun and a chance to see even more birds and marine wildlife up close. Everglades National Park is best enjoyed in cool winter months, before the heat and bugs get in the way of family fun.

Yosemite National Park, California

Credit: Roshan Vyas

Speaking of water, the thundering waterfalls of Yosemite National Park are a spectacular site to experience with your kids. You’ll want to get as close as possible to really appreciate the scale and power of these waterfalls. This is easy to do on short trails to both Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls. Kids will love the chance to feel the mist and listen to the roar of the water. Just make sure to watch your step as you get close; the rocks can be slippery for big and little feet alike. The waterfalls of Yosemite are not to be missed, no matter the season, even in winter when the falls freeze and an outdoor ice skating rink is set up with an impressive view of Half Dome. Relatively flat trails along Tuolumne Meadows provide for even more exploration of the park. This sub-alpine meadow boasts six different plant communities, including a wide variety of plant species, such as beautiful lodgepole pines.

No matter where you go the memories will be sweet and the lessons will run deep as your children share your love for the great outdoors. So pack your bags, grab your kids, and head out on some great family adventures. Which destination will you be heading to first?

By Allie Wisniewski, American Forests

The days are getting longer and the summer sun has returned to raise our spirits! You know what that means — it’s time for this year’s Forests in Focus photo contest!

Our third annual competition is new and improved, including for the first time an “Aspiring Photographers” category for up-and-coming visionaries ages 13 to 17 to submit their photos. Returning again are also our original five categories: Forest Landscapes; Big, Beautiful Trees; Forest Wildlife; Forest Recreation; Vibrant Cities.

Passionate about nature and capturing the beauty of its forest wonderlands? This is your chance to show off your skills! So, grab your camera and start shooting — the 2017 contest opens today and runs until September 5.

Last year’s competition was fierce, and Garret Suhrie emerged victorious with a cover feature in our magazine, among other amazing prizes such as products from our corporate partners. (Check out all of last year’s winners here.)

In light of today’s kickoff, we thought we’d give you five of our favorite nature photography tips for some additional inspiration:

1. Plan accordingly.
   You can’t always predict every detail when you’re entering the untamed wilderness, but taking basic precautions can often make or break your experience. Make sure you’re equipped with comfortable walking shoes, dress appropriately for the weather, and always research any rules and regulations your chosen location may have in place before you head out.
2. Get familiar with your camera’s settings.
   It’s safe to say you’ll likely have trouble snapping that perfect photo without at least a little knowledge of your camera’s advanced settings. Learn exposure basics like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to ensure the best quality possible!
3. Bring the right equipment.
   Nature photography often requires a tripod to prevent the sometimes-inevitable blurriness caused by a shaky hand. Lens hoods and weather-proof cases may also prove helpful in especially bright or rainy conditions.
4. Try a new perspective.
   Photos not coming out the way you’re envisioning them? Switch up your perspective! Crouch low or find a tree to climb – Trying a new angle or point of view can help refresh your vision and re-inspire you to compose the shot you have in mind.
5. Patience is key — don’t give up!
   Photography is all about patience, practice, and persistence. It’s common for photographers to take 500 to 1,000 photos before finding that perfect shot, so don’t give up! Take it from one of my favorite quotes by Lao Tzu, “Nature doesn’t hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

Good luck! We look forward to seeing your entries throughout the summer!

Credit: Kelsie DiPerna

On June 1, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.

A landmark international effort, the agreement was adopted in December 2015 and brings together nations to collectively combat climate change and collaborate on innovative strategies that help counties, particularly developing nations, adapt to its impacts.

This unprecedented agreement places strong emphasis on using forests as a climate change solution, both to capture carbon emissions and to protect our communities.

American Forests President & CEO Scott Steen provided an official statement:

Want to get involved?

If you’re fired up about this decision, there are a few ways you can join American Forests to help ensure that forests are part of the climate solution.

Sign up for our Action Alerts and send letters to your elected officials. Become a member — or renew your membership — and join us in supporting the forests that are critical to our lives!

Find out the latest in forest news in this week’s Forest Digest!

An emerald ash borer. Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Paris Climate Agreement – The New York Times
  Bad news for our climate. On June 1, President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the U.S. — the world’s second-largest polluter — from the Paris Climate Agreement, based on his belief that the pact “imposed wildly unfair environmental standards on American businesses and workers.”
• Raising the Green Roof: Why More Big-City Businesses are Putting Plants up Top – Forbes
  Talk about going green — providing a sanctuary for wildlife, preventing runoff spilling into rivers, and reducing energy consumption, “green roofs” are now all the rage in cities like New York and Washington, D.C., and where sun-soaked, asphalt-topped buildings are rapidly being converted to grass- and shrub-covered oases.
• A tree-killing insect that has devastated eastern forests is confirmed in Charlotte – The Charlotte Observer
  When the invasive emerald ash borer appeared in North Carolina in 2013, experts knew it was only a matter of time until it found its way to Charlotte. There are an estimated 1,300 ash trees lining Charlotte’s streets, making the city’s canopy particularly vulnerable to attack.
• Phoenix’s urban forest is shrinking – and residents say it’s time to change that – AZ Central
  Bring back the trees! With Phoenix’s urban forest shrinking at a steady rate due to monsoon storms, accidents, and limited funds to replace lost trees, public demand for city officials to reinvest in the city’s greenery is growing rapidly.
• City trees are dying early because they are struggling to sleep due to streetlights – The Telegraph
  Insomniac trees? Forester Peter Wohlleben warns that trees aren’t so different from us when it comes to needing darkness at night, claiming that trees’ circadian rhythms are significantly disrupted by light pollution in urban areas.