FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michelle Robbins:
Email: mrobbins@amfor.org
Phone: 202.737.1944 x203

Tree Planting a Practical, Effective Way to Remove CO2

AMERICAN FORESTS Urges Citizens to Include 3 “Small Steps” in Individual Efforts

Lately it seems that everyone is talking about climate change. That’s important because earth’s temperatures are skyrocketing—and we humans are the cause. With so much talk of melted polar ice caps, warmer oceans, and excessive heat and drought, it may seem that small steps can’t help.
But they can.

Planting trees is a practical, low-cost, and effective way to begin removing CO2 from the atmosphere right now. Excess carbon is released when fossil fuels like coal and gasoline are burned to release energy and that carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide—CO2—a greenhouse gas, blankets the earth and causes temperatures to rise.

We must reduce fossil fuel consumption and the activities that release greenhouse gases; make tree planting one way you help offset the negative effects of carbon in the atmosphere.

AMERICAN FORESTS, the nation’s oldest citizen conservation group, has been planting trees for forest restoration since its founding in 1875. In 1988 we launched Global ReLeaf to foster the planting of trees to cool the globe. Since then we’ve planted more than 25 million trees.

But many more are needed. Our Global ReLeaf2 campaign recognizes that there is an urgent need for millions more trees to offset the warming of our planet. There are three ways you can start today to help offset global warming:

Plant a Tree in Your Yard. Three trees planted strategically around your home can reduce energy use by as much as 50 percent. Do it right by following the simple steps at www.americanforests.org/planttrees/howto.php Combine energy savings with American history when you plant a tree from American Forests’ Famous & Historic Trees, offspring of trees that witnessed/connected with famous people, places, and events. See the complete list, from the George Washington Tulip Poplar and the Walden Woods Red Maple to the Disney Dreaming Tree Cottonwood and the Oklahoma City Survivor Tree, an American elm. See the complete list at www.historictrees.org.

Join a Community Group and Help Plant Trees Where You Live. Trees work doubly hard in our cities. They cool and clean the air, reduce stormwater runoff, and prevent erosion. Trees are also proven to foster community pride and enhance property values. Many communities have local tree-planting groups. To find a group near you, visit www.actrees.org/site/aboutus/index.php or www.treelink.org

Plant Trees with AMERICAN FORESTS. AMERICAN FORESTS is planting trees to clean our air and water, restore biodiversity and animal habitat, and reforest areas damaged by the effects of humans and natural disasters. Every dollar you contribute plants a native species in an ecosystem restoration project. This year we are funding a total of 34 projects in 19 states and in Mexico, Malaysia, and Honduras. Contribute online at www.americanforests.org/planttrees/ or call our tree-planting hotline at 800/545-TREE. Mail donations may be sent to: PO Box 2000 Washington, DC 20013. Raise awareness of the importance of trees in your community; ask your local paper or magazine to run AMERICAN FORESTS’ public service ads, available online at www.americanforests.org/news/psa.php