American Forest Foundation Blog

Wood belongs in the green building code

Wow, what a wonderful sight it would be to drive down a country road lined by exotic bamboo shoots instead of those mundane old pine trees!

Project Learning Tree’s GreenSchools! Program Takes Root

Project Learning Tree (PLT), the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, is progressing rapidly on the development and implementation of its GreenSchools! program.  In 2009, a pilot group of schools have been selected to trial a national GreenSchools! initiative.  Students and teachers at 38 schools in ten states will receive training in environmental education and Project Learning Tree.  Students will investigate environmental issues at their school and come up with an action plan to create a green and heathy learning environment. Based on their investigations, students will work with their community in service-learning projects to create a model GreenSchool.

Can harvesting trees for energy benefit forests?

Listen to what VA. Tech’s head of forestry has to say about the potential role of forests in managing our nation’s energy future. The American Forest Foundation partners with Earth & Sky Radio Series to produce broadcasts on the current issues facing the 10 million family forest owners in the U.S.

Potential to Amass More Carbon in Eastern North American Forests

ScienceDaily (2009-04-11) — With climate change looming, the hunt for places that can soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is on. Obvious “sinks” for the greenhouse gas include the oceans and the enormous trees of tropical rainforests.  But temperate forests also play a role, and new research now suggests they can store more carbon than previously thought. … Read full article at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090406192333.htm

Oregon Woodland Owners Consider Selling Carbon Credits

Check out this article from the Oregonian by Matthew Preusch about revenue opportunities for family forest owners by storing and selling carbon emission offset credits.

MANNING — With all the worries climate change conjures — swelling carbon footprints, dissolving Antarctic ice sheets — it helps to walk through Peter Hayes’ woods and hear how they could help slow the planet’s warming.

Tune in to New Radio Series on Forests April 9th: PLT Partners with EarthSky

Project Learning Tree and its parent group, the American Forest Foundation, are partnering with EarthSky to produce absorbing radio spots and podcasts about our nation’s forests, and what forest landowners are doing to manage their lands.