Our Green Tree Initiative: Every Tree Matters

December 17, 2015 0

When you think about environmental concerns, pollution, toxic waste, and fossil fuels probably come to mind. These are all very important issues, but they should not overshadow the detrimental and continuing impact of global deforestation. The loss of trees can have a tremendous effect on both our own backyards and our Earth as a whole. Live Science explains: “deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses,” which typically include commercial manufacturing of paper and wood, residential and urban development, or agriculture. While some deforestation might be expected in modern civilization, the current rate is completely out of hand: “an estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).”

At American Power and Gas, we’re dedicated to doing our part for our planet. We provide clean, sustainable alternative fuel options to our clientele so they can reduce their carbon footprints. This in and of itself can help create a greener world, but we want to do even more, so we’ve created numerous campaigns and programs to benefit our environment. Given the current deforestation dynamics, we know that every tree matters, so we’ve created our Green Tree Initiative. Read on to learn more about this program and why we’re passionate about it.

Why Every Tree Matters

When it comes to deforestation, every tree matters because each leaf, branch, and root ripped from its proper place can have an impact on our communities, climate, and conservation. Trees are so pivotal to Earth’s existence that their absence makes a difference on nearly every area of life.

You might think of trees as beautiful or enjoyable natural features, but they are much more. Trees, Water & People writes: “healthy forests are not a luxury; they are vital to the overall health of the planet. In addition to controlling erosion, protecting water supplies, and helping to regulate the global climate, forests are also important reservoirs of biodiversity.” As one of the most ancient plants on the planet, trees protect and improve all organic life on Earth. Failing to recognize their importance and uprooting them can have a wide range of consequences.

For example, without tree roots to hold it down, important soil can slip away into streams, literally unsettling the very ground we live on. Deforestation raises the risk for landslides, which can be devastating or even deadly for both human and animal habitats. In his 2012 article “Death toll from landslides vastly underestimated,” Sid Perkins reports: “landslides claim an order of magnitude more lives each year than has been previously recognized,” and notes: “populations in affected areas are growing and encroaching on deforested land that is prone to landslides.” In this way, deforestation can directly claim lives, as well as destroying homes.

Losing wooded land can also affect Earth’s delicate atmosphere. Live Science reports: “the No. 1 problem caused by deforestation is the impact on the global carbon cycle…The deforestation of trees not only lessens the amount of carbon stored, it also releases carbon dioxide into the air…Deforestation is the second largest anthropogenic (human-caused) source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, ranging between 6 percent and 17 percent.” Each tree lost puts more carbon dioxide into the ether, further speeding global warming.

Of course, clearing out hectares upon hectares of trees can have a worldwide effect, but recent research suggests that even cutting down a few trees in your neighborhood could be detrimental. The Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers & Thinkers (or, ALERT) recently published a report entitled “Every Tree Matters; Even a Little Deforestation Alters Climate.” In it, they cited a study that indicates “felling even a handful of trees can change the local climate…clearing even a football field-sized area is enough to provoke significant heating of the immediate area…killing trees…has a sizable local impact, meaning it directly affects the quality of life of those living nearby.” This investigation suggests that each and every tree truly does matter, both on an individual and cumulative basis.

Our Green Tree Initiative

We’ve learned that every tree matters, for better or worse. In the same way that cutting down a single tree can contribute to the damage of deforestation, sowing a new tree can bolster the benefits of these powerful plants. With our Green Tree Initiative, you can assist in our efforts toward reforestation, one seedling at a time. When you enroll in this innovative program, you’ll receive special codes from Treecycler, a service that helps companies and customers connect with and contribute to reforestation projects worldwide. Simply by entering this code at the Treecycler website, you’ll be able to pick where you’d like a brand new tree planted and do your part to counteract deforestation. Within the first three months, you’ll get five codes, then another five over the next three months, and a final eight over the following six months. If you remember to redeem them all within 60 days, you could plant a stunning 18 trees in a year.