What species of trees help reduce global warming best?

Trees are important tools in the fight against global warming. Trees absorb the carbon dioxide (CO2), that is given off by green house gas emissions, and use it during photosynthesis (meaning they intake CO2 in order to make 02 (oxygen)).

Any type of plant can intake carbon dioxide, but trees do it best because, they are larger, and have extensive root structures. What is also special about trees, is that they can capture carbon before it has a chance to reach the upper atmosphere. Disallowing it to hang around the atmosphere, trap in heat, and increase our global temperature.

According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), tree species that grow quickly and live longer, are ideal carbon sinks. But, having these two qualities in a tree are rare and require genetic alterations in a lab. However, tree species that younger and grow quickly are "ideal" trees to make a carbon sink. But, it has been observed that trees that grow slowly can store more carbon over their significantly longer lives.

So which tree species are the best to offset global warming?

Tests have been conducted, and researches say that trees that don't require a lot of maintance, are the best to offset global warming. Of course, it is also suggested that if you are planting a tree, make sure your planting it in the right climate and living conditions.

Trees such as: Common Horse-chestnut, Black Walnut, American Sweetgum, Ponderosa Pine, Red Pine, White Pine, London Plane, Hispaniolan Pine, Douglas Fir, Scarlet Oak, Red Oak, Virginia Live Oak, and Bald Cypress are considered the best for absorbing and storing carbon.

So whenever you are wanting to make a difference on the environment, plant a tree! Or, if you are wanting to make a larger contribution to tree planting efforts; feel free donate your time or money to any tree planting organization.




If you need help on getting started with planting a tree, or the tree planting process. This video will show you how.

Earth Day 2009.

On April, 21st 2009 (Earth Day), this press statement was released by Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) of the United States:

"This Earth Day is the first in nearly a decade when we have support across America and in Washington to make real progress for a clean energy future. In the midst of a financial crisis, our country is recognizing that the right environmental decisions are the right economic decisions. We can overcome our greatest challenges to create millions of clean energy jobs, restore confidence in the financial sector, and give our children a better planet. With a president who shares our environmental priorities, a Congress poised to take action, and business leaders increasingly aware of the opportunity presented by a clean energy economy -- we have the tools to repower America.”

Sounds convincing right? Let's see what kind of propositions that President Obama is offering to the American people; in terms of a cleaner Earth, and providing new "environmentally friendly" jobs, to the millions of jobless Americans in the United States. Due to the recession.

In his speech, Obama addressed both the recession issue, and the environment. His vision is to have the United States as being "the world's leading exporter of clean energy", rather than being "the worlds leading importer of oil products". Obama wants $ 15 billion to be allocated over the next 10 years for developing wind farms, solar energy, and geothermal energy. And personally, I think this is a great plan! Not only are the people doing their part to create change and lessening their impact on the environment, but people in office are becoming more conscious and passionate about the issue as well. Also, creating these new sources of energy will provide jobs in fields like: Research, engineering, testing, readings, workers etc... and this will decrease the unemployment rate in the US.

If we combine the forces of the people, and get the government to take further action in environmental protection programs: we can increase the chances of creating change. And with this, our world will be one step closer to using entirely clean energy.

And if Obama is going to take environmental issues seriously, Prime Minister Stephen Harper should get on board too!

12 ways to clean up our water.

Original site that provided this information is http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/gsteps.asp . Everyday, household products are a major contributor to water contamination and pollution. When it rains, fertilizers from lawns, oil residue from streets, other solvent residues from homes, and pet wastes are washed into storm drains and our water sources such as lakes, streams, and rivers. Contaminating the water that we use for bathing, washing, drinking, and swimming. Not only endangering our health, but it also impacts the animals that thrive in water ecosystems. Here are some ways that you can help decrease polluted runoff: 1. DISPOSING OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES PROPERLY: Keep hazardous wastes such as paints, insecticides, and other chemicals in proper containers, that are to be kept in a clean, dry place. NEVER pour these items down the sink, toilet, or drain, for they contain harmful substances such as: Sodium hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, phenol, cresol, ammonia, and formaldehyde. These chemicals are toxic, and can make humans sick. However, it can kill the animals that live in water ecosystems. To properly discard of these materials, take them to your local Eco centre or public sanitation centre.

2. USE NONTOXIC PRODUCTS: Stop purchasing toxic products, and invest in environmentally friendly, nontoxic products. Ask your store if they do carry nontoxic products, or you can always check the label. They may be hard to find, but you can use the Internet to find safe subtypes for toxic household products.

3. RECYCLE AND DISPOSE OF GARBAGE PROPERLY: NEVER discard non-disposable products down the toilet. They can damage the sewer treatment process and can end up littering beaches and waters.

4. CONSERVE WATER: Invest in efficient home products. Purchasing items such as efficient plumbing fixtures, toilet dams or bricks, and low flow toilets and shower heads can conserve gallons of water per year. It can can also save you lots of money! Also, instead of washing your side walk/drive way, sweep it instead.

5. USE NATURAL FERTILIZERS: Using natural fertilizers such as compost, manure, bone meal, and peat moss can replace the use of using toxic fertilizers. They can be found at any local garden centre, or you can ask a local farmer for any of these products.

6. AVOID OVER-WATERING: Using slow-watering techniques such as trickle or drip irrigation's, and soaker hoses are more efficient than sprinklers. Over watering can lead to leaching of fertilizers into ground water. And remember, water in the morning before noon and at dusk (watering during the hottest part of the day causes people to water more, and it evaporates the water that the flowers need throughout the day, causing them to wilt).

7. DECREASE HARD SURFACE AREAS AROUND YOUR HOME: Having fewer surfaces of asphalt and concrete in your yard can improve drainage. Do landscaping with gravel, vegetation, and other porous materials, to prevent flooding/ pooling of water in your house and your yard.

8. MAINTAIN SEPTIC SYSTEMS PROPERLY: Have you septic tank cleaned every 3-5 years. Having a poorly maintained septic system and contaminate ground water. And by keeping it maintained, your prolonging the life of the system.

9. RECYCLE USED MOTOR OIL: Again, do NOT pour motor oil down any drainage system! It can seep into ground water and contaminate it. Be smart, and take your used oil to an Eco system or your local sanitation system. Also, keep your car maintained to prevent leakage of hazardous materials.

10. BE GREEN WHEN WASHING YOUR CAR: When at home, use a bucket of soapy water, rags, and a hose. Turning off the house in between rinsing can save 150 gallons of water! Or, if you don't want to do it yourself, go to a car wash that reuses it's water.

11. HELP IDENTIFY, REPORT AND STOP POLLUTERS.

12. BE AN ACTIVIST.

IF YOU THINK OUR DRINKING WATER HAS SEVERE PROBLEMS, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ON THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA. THEY HAVE IT EXTREMELY WORSE THAN WE DO!

How wildlife is affected by global warming.

The website where I found this article is www.environment.about.com .

In this article, Larry West discusses how animals are affected by global warming. He stated that:

"Most researchers agree that even small changes in temperature are enough to send hundreds if not thousands of already struggling species into extinction unless we can stem the tide of global warming. And time may be of the essence: A 2003 study published in the journal Nature concluded that 80 percent of some 1,500 wildlife species sampled are already showing signs of stress from climate change."

Animals are affected by climate change in many different ways. The polar bear for example, is facing habitat displacement, due to the melting of the ice slabs that they have inhabited for hundreds of years. This fast-paced change is not allowing the polar bear to adapt quickly enough to the change, making them super sensitive to global warming. Polar bears will also become extinct in the next few years, due to drowning and being unable to adapt to a new environment that will fit their needs.

Another area that is being affected by global warming; is the nesting/ breeding grounds of waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region. The increased temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions, are drying up these areas, forcing birds to migrate to new, further away areas to breed and raise their young.

Global warming also affects life cycles of various species of animals, epically migratory birds and species that hibernate. Their cycles are being disturbed because of the warmer temperatures, making birds migrate and breed sooner in the season, and making bears come out of their winter sleep earlier than usual. Global warming is also increasing the life-cycle of insects and bugs, and since they like warmer temperatures, they are spreading to new territory and are infesting more trees, causing them to die. The loss of trees not only affects animal habitats; but it can also hurt humans who are in the logging in industry.

The animals that are hardest hit by global warming are: caribou (reindeer), arctic foxes, toads, polar bears, penguins, gray wolves, tree swallows, painted turtles and salmon.

Easy tricks to do at home, and lessen your impact on the environment

The website where the article is located at is www.environment.about.com .

In this article, Larry West, from About.com describes 5 ways on how a person can make a difference on the environment, in 30 minutes. The 5 topics contained in this list are: Car pooling, becoming a vegetarian (or having more vegetables in your diet), using reusable shopping bags, changing your incandescent light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs, and paying your bills online. He explains how each change is beneficial to people financially, and how these little changes can make Earth cleaner. Listed below are the brief points that are brought up in each topic mentioned in his article.

#1 On Larry West's list is Carpooling. With car pooling, people can save money, lessen air pollution, and decrease health problems. Walking, biking, and public transportation are other alternatives than driving vehicles.

#2 On Larry West's list is eating more vegetables. Putting more vegetables in your diet is not only healthy for you, but eating meat, dairy, and egg products contribute heavily to Global Warming. Raising animals requires a ton of land, water, grain, and fuel, which can scar the environment badly.

#3 On Larry West's list is using reusable shopping bags. With using reusable shopping bags, you are keeping plastic bags out of landfills, keeping them from clogging waterways, and preventing them from potentially harming animals. Reusable bags are made from materials that don't harm the environment during production, and just like their name, "You can reuse" them again.

#4 On Larry West's list is changing your light bulbs. Changing incandescent light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs can decrease heat energy that is lost by 70%, and compact florescent light bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. Not only are you helping the environment, but your getting more for your buck!

#5 On Larry West's list is paying your bills online. With paying your bills online, you are using no paper! Which means that you're preventing loggers from cutting more trees. Having more trees left on our Earth enables us to have more trees to convert Carbon Dioxide to Oxygen (allowing us to breathe better air), and you are saving animal habitats.

With changes in lifestyle that are simple as these, people can easily become involved in being "Earth friendly". With more increased awareness, and everyone doing their small parts at home, they are lessening the risks of Global Warming; and with this, they are decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, saving animals from extinction, and saving animal habitats. Which all all positive.