American Forests Forestbytes February 2010

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The newly-released Winter 2010 issue of American Forests magazine presents the remarkable revival of the American Chestnut now returning from the brink of extinction and examines how the extinction of woolly mammoths, sloths and other North American megafauna shapes forests to this day. Also, read Cristina Santiestevan’s timely article on what climate change means for major tree species, and get an up-close look at a day in the life of a Forest Service fire crew.

To read these articles and more, check out the Winter 2010 magazine online. READ MORE

Valentine’s Day with AMERICAN FORESTS

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, are you looking for that perfect gift for your special someone? This year, consider a gift that is both sweet and eco-friendly:

Enjoy luscious raspberry desserts or the Chocolate Lover’s Brownies this V-Day. With any donation of $10 or more to plant trees through Global ReLeaf, you’ll receive a free copy of Myra Goodman’s cookbook Food to Live By, containing these delicious, organic recipes and many more. Visit us on Facebook for details. READ MORE

New Book Explores The Stories Behind Trees
In her new book Lives of the Trees: An Uncommon History, author Diana Wells takes the reader on a thoughtful exploration of people’s relationship with about 100 trees – arranged alphabetically from acacia to Wollemi Pine – and delves into the stories behind their names. READ MORE

Expansion of Deciduous Trees into the Arctic Will Hasten Warming
As American Forests publishes a survey on climate change impacts on forests in the Winter 2010 article “Changing Climate, Shifting Forests,” new research gives a further look into how these changes are expected to impact one of the planet’s most dramatically warming regions: the Arctic. READ MORE

Building the Green Economy
Building a sustainable economy that meets the needs of both the people and the environment was the focus of several days of meetings and workshops presented the week of January 18th in Washington by the National Council of Science and the Environment. The poor and often destructive choices made when we undervalue the benefits of clean water and air, and healthy forests, was a central theme. READ MORE

News From the World of Big Trees

This spring, American Forests’ Big Tree program celebrates its 70th anniversary with the release of the most up-to-date, comprehensive National Big Tree Register ever.
In addition to this register issued bi-annually by American Forests, many states have their own registers which list state champions. As we look forward to the new National Register’s release, we celebrate some of the state Big Tree Coordinators who help make it possible. ~ Charlie Marcus Florida READ MORE

American Forests Announcing Historic Tree of the Month

Martin Luther King Jr. Sycamore

Martin Luther King Jr., the celebrated American civil rights activist, was a hugely influential figure in African American history. The reverend was part of such pivotal historical moments as the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. His great successes, including the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in 1964, were accomplished through nonviolent resistance. Martin Luther King Jr. will always have his place in not only African American history, but in world history. READ MORE

Alliance for International Reforestation

Global ReLeaf Corner
The Global ReLeaf project “Reforestation and Sustainable Farming: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala” of the Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR) is growing and planting 50,000 native trees in Guatemala to reverse the harmful effects of slash-and-burn farming. READ MORE

American Forests Announces Executive and Board Changes!
AMERICAN FORESTS’ board of directors has appointed Gerry Gray as acting executive director, following the resignation of Deborah Gangloff to become president and CEO of the Crow Canyon Archeological Center in Colorado. READ MORE

MAPEI to Plant 200,000 Trees
American Forests announces our partnership with MAPEI, a world-leading manufacturer of building materials including adhesives, sealants and other products. To mark the latest addition to its eco-friendly Ultrabond ECO ® line – and underscoring its overall commitment to the environment – in 2010 MAPEI will contribute $1 from each pail sold to plant a tree through American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program. READ MORE

DIY Reforestation
Forestbytes reader Bill Zalin shares his experience reforesting a local park READ MORE

	FLAME For the past few years, American Forests has worked with local and national organizations to support policy initiatives that could help deal with the rapidly increasing cost of wildfire suppression, and the widespread implications of those costs for other programs. READ MORE
	RVCC Climate Change Working Group American Forests has been working with the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC) over the past two years to develop information and provide comments on emerging climate change legislation. READ MORE

Tree Trivia
Up to how many acres does the range of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker cover? Learn the answer in next month’s Forestbytes! Send your answers to info@amfor.org, and two correct responses chosen randomly will receive a complimentary copy of American Forests magazine and a Tree Hugger t-shirt.

Comments, suggestions on Forestbytes? We would love to hear from you! Send us an email at info@amfor.org.

Ask American Forests' Tree Doctor American Forests has teamed up with The Davey Tree Expert Company to bring you answers to all your tree-related questions.
Email treedoc@amfor.org