American Forests takes on American Wildfires

American Forests (americanforests.org), the nation’s oldest citizen’s non-profit conservancy, announced that they have a goal to match the $2.8 million settlement they received to offset the devastating effects from the California wildfires.  I checked out their site, and they run a really good operation, most notably through their ReLeaf program (5 stars for their play on words).   

For example, Ikea partnered with American forests to plant 33,000 trees a year to offset the CO2 emissions produced from IKEA workers and customers driving to their stores.  American Forests have also set up the Katrina ReLeaf Fund which will restore much of the Gulf Coast urban and rural tree canopy. 

Now, they’re working on the California Wildfire situation.  I, myself, lived less than a mile from the LA Griffith Park fires and witnessed the blank landscape after they tamped down the flames.   

Now I know what some of you are going to say, “Some wildfires are good, they clear the brush  & small trees to allow the larger trees to grow, and the larger trees develop a sort of flame retardant in their bark that prevent them from dying in another forest fire.  Wildfires are also a part of the natural forest cycle that promotes a greater diversity in the ecosystem. “    To which I’d say, “Wow, you know a lot of about trees.”

And then I’d say, “some” wildfires are good, but I take a nimby (not in my backyard) approach to wildfires – little selfish, I know.  Also, the Ice Age was part of nature, too, no?

So, go help our friends at American Forests.  These guys know what they’re doing.

Click to donate to American Forests’ California Wildfire ReLeaf Fund or call 800/545-8733.

Note: American Forests is one of GreenDimes tree planting partners (what, you didn’t think we planted them ourselves, did you?)

The Man Who Lost His Favorite Griffith Park Hike (they’ll bring it back),

-Sanjiv

Comments

[Bare Bones Gardener]

Unfortunately there are a lot more fires happening now than in the time before man came along. And these days both the plants, animals and the ecosystems are under a lot more pressure than at any time in the past.