Tree Bark – Interesting Facts and Information
Bark is the outer protective covering of a tree. It adapts to protect a living tree from the environment and shields delicate tissues from diseases and harmful insect attacks.
Fact: Bark thickness varies in different species of trees. The protective covering of the madrone, also known as the madroño, madroña, bearberry, or strawberry tree, is very thin, but the bark on a few of the giant sequoia trees in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is two feet thick!
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service the total annual United States production of bark may be well above 20 million tons. Since one of the major costs in processing any natural material is the cost of collection, bark, for which collection costs have already been paid, has become increasingly attractive as a potential raw material.
Bark is composed of non living tissue on the outside and living tissue on the inside. The history and modern uses of bark, on SavATree.com, reports that for centuries the people of the Amazon basin have harvested the fibers from tree bark and used it to make a variety of functional objects.
Most commonly used to make baskets, bark was also used to craft canoes and corks.
Fact: Canoes have been in use for over 3000 years.
The first Canadian canoes were made with paper birch bark. It took many labor-intensive hours complete but they turned out to be amazingly durable. Now canoes are produced using a synthetic equivalent of birch bark. Birch bark is still widely used in the production of souvenirs in Europe.
All bark contains some cork. Cork oak trees produce enough of this substance to make it economical to harvest and it is not necessary for the tree to be cut down. Dead bark can be stripped from the tree without harming it as long as the stripping is done carefully to ensure the living inner bark is not damaged and if it is done at intervals of at least ten years. The first stripping takes place when the tree is twenty years old and produces poor-quality cork. The second stripping occurs ten years later and produces better cork. High-grade cork is not produced until the tree is at least fifty years old. These trees continue to bear cork for two hundred years and the quality improves after each ten-year stripping until it reaches its peak.
Fact: Imported cork oaks grow in California but the oldest and most productive trees are native to the western Mediterranean Sea area.
In certain areas of the world, bark has been used for years to create extravagant clothing. South America, Africa, Japan and South East Asia were all pioneers in the creation of bark clothing such as belts, headdresses and caps. Similar to the Amazonians, cloth was produced and manufactured into capes, blankets and other articles of clothing. Wearing clothing made from bark was a sign of wealth and was strictly worn by the elite upper class.
The uses of bark are unlimited and viable. There is an enormous amount of research being conducted in the medical field to determine the benefits of bark. Researchers recently declared that anti inflammatory compounds called phenolics found in the bark of Scotch pine may prove effective in fighting arthritis.
Fact: Scotch pine is the number one selling Christmas tree.
Researchers believe that pine bark extract might potentially treat various health problems such as high blood pressure, asthma and heart disease.
Willow bark extract is currently being used and prescribed in Europe to treat lower back pain. A popular anesthetic, tubocurarine, is extracted from bark. There are also a few cancer drugs that are extracted from bark such as the South African cape bush willow which supplies treatments for lung and ovarian cancer.
Fact: The main ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid, is obtained from poplar and willow bark.
An oil in the young bark of an evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) produces a spicy cinnamon flavor. The bark is peeled from young twigs, tightly rolled then and dried to produce cinnamon sticks often used to season hot tea or holiday drinks. Powdered cinnamon is merely ground bark from this tree
What is an Arborist?
Arborists are educated in arboriculture. This is the art and science of planting, caring for and maintaining trees. These dedicated professional tree care consultants receive continuous education, instruction, and certification in the latest techniques and newest equipment. An arborist believes that the true value of a tree equals the amount of enjoyment we get from a trees beauty and has a great appreciation for it as a fellow living being.
Anatomy of a Tree
Leaves make the food for the tree. Branches hold up the leaves. Bark is the outer layer of the trunk that protects the tree from harmful insects and diseases. The inner bark carries food from the leaves to the other parts of the tree. Sapwood holds the tubes that bring water and minerals to the leaves. Heartwood is the center of the tree that is the oldest and darkest part of the tree. The Heartwood helps to hold the tree up. The roots hold the tree in the ground. There are two types of tree roots:
- Fibrous roots. This is a system of roots that spread out in the soil.
- Taproot. This is one main long root. The taproot grows straight down in the soil.
Trees are good for our health and the health of the planet. Trees have had a great influence on the shaping of the ecology of our planet and in determining the present arrangements of life on earth. Trees absorb pollution. They absorb carbon dioxide and slow down global climate change. We enjoy watching them grow over a lifetime and know that they will be here even after we’re gone. Trees are like landmarks in space and time. They offer us a sense of continuity, a connection with the past and the future. Trees have been symbols of stability, dignity, adventure, comfort and knowledge. It’s important that all of us stop and consider how many trees will be left for our children and grandchildren.
Get Involved
Make it your goal to restore and improve the health, safety, vitality and sustainability of local landscapes.
Encourage environmental awareness for nature by directly giving back to the community. Proudly participate in community service projects, neighborhood activities, special events, unique tree care projects, educational forums and historic preservation endeavors.
Early Environmentally Friendly Education
We form habits from what we’ve learned and been taught. Patterns are established early in life. Everybody has a certain way of doing things and certain conditions or situations become important to them, their family and community.
In children both the conscious and subconscious mind are very flexible. As people start to age the brain becomes more inflexible and at some point the things that exist in our mind are solidified and people become who they are to become. Once habits have formed change starts to get resisted.
This is why it’s important for this generation to be well informed of the current circumstances threatening the environment and not only their health and wellbeing but the health and wellbeing of future generations.
Setting an Example
Children are always watching and emulating their parents and adults around them. The actions of parents and teachers today will be imitated by children tomorrow.
It’s important to be aware of your every day actions and the examples you are setting. By teaching them that the environment is important to you, explaining the consequences and sharing your thoughts with them they will inherit an appreciation for and care about the same things you care about.
Teaching children about the environment is an important part of their education. Take time to plan activities, games and learning adventures that will peak their interests and impact them for the rest of their lives. There are many ways to help children be aware of the importance of their becoming eco-friendly and plenty of easy steps that can be taken to make it happen.
In Home Practices
Education starts in the home. From the very beginning make it known to children that their family is determined to meet the challenges of climate change and dedicated to helping the environment. Make sustainability, energy savings and organic common words around your home. Make the choices you want your children to make, now and in the future.
Set up recycle bins that make it easy to properly sort household waste and ensure it gets disposed of properly. Use alternative transportation like walking, biking, public transportation and car pool whenever possible. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. Sign the whole family up to participate for community clean up and recycling days.
School & Community
Make sure these practices continue outside the home by starting environmental awareness programs at school and in your community. Organize an Earth Day assembly program for local schools. Every class can prepare charts and informational material on the many ways their actions help save the environment.
Help your children learn to enjoy the outdoors and better understand the importance of the world around them.
Children are encouraged from a very early age to be consumers. Commercials about the latest and greatest game or toy and cartoon and movie character merchandise creates a desire to have certain items that kids at school or around the neighborhood quickly determine they must have because all the kids have them. Make toy purchases on the basis of longevity and interest as opposed to what’s hot at the moment.
Make sure kids understand that other children have needs. Suggest they organize or participate in a giveaway program. Donate outgrown clothes and toys to homeless shelters and local Salvation Army or community center.
Simplify Living
Living simply is not very popular but it is one of the best ways to impact the environment in a positive way. The less we consume, the less needs to be manufactured. This means less waste, less fossil fuels and less packaging.
Biofuel – A Renewable Energy Source
Biofuel is a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel able to be derived from recently living organisms such as plants and plant-derived materials, animals and their by-products (different from fossil fuels which are derived from biological materials that have long since died). Biofuels can be produced from any biological carbon source. For example, manure, garden waste and crop residues are all sources of biomass. The most common sources used for biofuel manufacturing are various photosynthetic plants.
This is a renewable energy source based on the carbon cycle unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels.
Biofuels can be used to generate steam and create electricity. They can also be converted to a liquid or gas to be used in vehicles.
Biofuels are commonly used for cooking and space heating of homes as well as central heating of homes and larger facilities.
In many European countries, over 25% of heating is done with solid biofuels, including wood pellets, wood chips and straw.
Biomass is made from many types of organic matter waste, animal and vegetable, such as crop stalks, tree trimmings, wood pallets, construction waste, chicken and pig waste, agricultural waste as well as lawn and yard clippings and debris.
Using waste biomass to produce energy can reduce the use of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in addition to reducing pollution and waste management problems.
A recent publication by the European Union highlighted the potential for waste-derived bioenergy to contribute to the reduction of global warming. The report concluded that the equivalent of 19 million tons of oil will be available from biomass by 2020, 46% from bio-wastes such as municipal solid waste, agricultural residues, farm waste and other biodegradable waste streams.
Landfills generate gases, known as landfill gas (LFG), as the waste buried in them undergoes anaerobic (without air) digestion. LFG is considered a source of renewable energy, even though landfill disposal is often non-sustainable.
Landfill gas can be burned either directly for heat or to generate electricity for public consumption. Landfill gas contains approximately 50% methane which is the gas found in natural gas. Landfill gas can be easily purified and then fed into the natural gas grid. If landfill gas is not harvested, it escapes into the atmosphere which is undesirable since methane is a greenhouse gas with much more global warming potential than that of carbon dioxide. Over a time span of 100 years, one ton of methane produces the same greenhouse gas effect as 23 tons of C02.
Biochar – The machine that might save the World?
While researchers continue to work on alternative ways to recycle carbon CNN reports that the University of Georgia has a machine that may help solve environmental problems such as energy, food production and global climate change.
Biochar is highly porous charcoal that’s produced from organic waste. Raw materials can be any forest, agricultural or animal waste products like woodchips, corn husks, peanut shells or chicken droppings.
The waste or “biomass” is fed into a metal barrel where it is cooked under intense heat. Within a few hours the organic trash is transformed into charcoal-like pellets that can be used as fertilizer.
Gasses given off during the process can be harnessed to fuel vehicles or power electric generators. There may also be some pharmaceutical applications for the by-products.
Biochar’s high carbon content and porous nature helps soil retain water, nutrients, protect soil microbes and ultimately increase crop production while acting as natural carbon sink by trapping CO2 in the ground.
Biochar helps clean the air by preventing rotting biomass from releasing harmful CO2 into the atmosphere and by allowing plants to safely store CO2 pulled out of the air during photosynthesis.
According to Christoph Steiner, a leading research scientist studying biochar, soil acts as an enormous carbon pool, increasing this carbon pool could significantly contribute to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere thus offering us a chance to produce carbon negative energy.
According to NASA scientist James Hansen, worldwide use of biochar could cut CO2 levels by 8 parts per million within 50 years.
There remain more large-scale tests that need to be performed before this biochar technology can be rolled out on a global scale.
But there are 3 billion people who are risking effects of climate change and this just may be a way for them to help solve this global problem and prosper at the same time. Industries might turn their attention to farmers around the world and start paying them for their agricultural wastes.
Fire & Our Forests
Fire is deemed an essential part of most forested ecosystems.
Fire rejuvenates forests. It recycles forest nutrients, deters unwanted harmful weeds and thins out thickets of trees.
Fire creates standing dead trees essential for woodpeckers and the insects they eat and encourages the growth of native plants. Fire was the forest management tool of choice for Native Americans for 10,000 years. Frequent burning kept wildlife and the forests they lived in healthy and sustainable.
We should try learning to live with and manage fire rather than trying to fight it since firefighting can be as destructive to the environment as the fire itself.
Fire retardant that gets dropped by bombers is toxic to fish if it reaches streams or lakes. The Clean Water Act requires the Forest Service to get a permit before it dumps fire retardant into a stream. The Endangered Species Act requires the Forest Service to evaluate the effects fire retardant in streams will have on threatened fish.
Some retardants include cyanide which is added to prevent corrosion of bomber tanks. Cyanide adds to the retardant’s toxicity. Then the bulldozers that are used to clear fire trails disturb the soil and increase erosion.
Record wildfire seasons in recent years have destroyed millions of trees in forests around the country. There are many areas that have been burned so severely that replanting is necessary.
You can help. When you give or send Seed-the-Future Tree Cards you’ll be helping to restore America’s forests, creating wildlife habitat, reducing global warming and ensuring a healthier planet.
Forest Education
More than half of the earth’s original forest cover has been destroyed due to human activity such as development, agriculture and logging.
Protecting the earth’s remaining forest cover is now an urgent task.
A forest’s ecosystem is made up of all kinds of living things. Trees, soil, undergrowth, insects, and animals all play a critical part in helping to maintaining life on earth. Forests create oxygen and filter out air pollutants which helps us breathe and helps stabilize global climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. They act like sponges and soak up rainfall which prevents floods and purifies the water we drink. Forests provide a home for 90% of the plant and animal species that live on land.
Forests are commercially important since they yield valuable resources like wood, rubber and medicinal plants.
Climate change is significantly impacting our lands. It is imperative that we dutifully manage the lands in our care in order to sustain their diversity and productivity.
Forest certification was launched over a decade ago to help protect forests from destructive logging practices. Forest certification was developed to act as a seal of approval. It is a means of informing consumers that a wood or paper product comes from forests managed in accordance with strict environmental and social standards.
Daily Eco Friendly Tips
Computer Equipment: USA Today recently reported that the power wasted while computers are sitting idle overnight really adds up. One study finally tried to measure it. They estimated $2.8 billion is wasted on excess energy costs each year in the U.S. alone. On a CO2 basis, that’s 20 million tons of carbon dioxide, about the amount produced by 4 million cars on the road. In order to put wasted energy in terms that are more easily understood, the study (http://www.1e.com/energycampaign/index.aspx) offers the following analogy: A company with 1,000 PCs left on overnight could save about $28,000 a year if the PCs are turned off after hours.
Turn off your computer to save energy and wear and tear on your computer hardware. Set up the sleep mode by changing your PC’s energy settings or install an energy-saving application so that it automatically sleeps when you’re not using it. The Department of Energy suggests turning off the monitor if you aren’t going to use it for more than 20 minutes. Shut down the entire system if you don’t plan to use it for more than 2 hours. Use a surge protector power strip with an on/off switch and just press and go on your way out the door.
Household
Laundry: 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes into heating the water. Wash laundry in cold water. Turing your washing machine dial to cold will help conserve energy and save on your electric bill.
Water Heater: The water heater is the second largest energy consumer in the home and using it efficiently can add up to big savings. With an automatic dishwasher, the hot water heater setting can safely be lowered to 130-140 degrees. If the automatic dishwasher has a water temperature booster, the water heater temperature can be set to 110-120 degrees. If your house will be vacant for two or more days, lower the temperature of your water heater until you return. If you have a new water heater, drain a few gallons from your tank every six months to remove sediment that accumulates and reduces the heater’s efficiency. If you only use your hot water once or twice a day, consider installing a timer on the hot water heater and set it to run two hours in the morning and in the evening.
Most new water heaters are already insulated. But if you have a heater that is more than five years old try wrapping a fiberglass blanket around it or install a ready-made insulation kit and you can save up to 10% on water heating costs. Insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss as the hot water is flowing to your faucets.
Lighting: Use smart, efficient ways to conserve energy that you don’t even have to think about. Use electric timers on hot water heaters and motion sensors or timers on indoor and outdoor lights. Set them to be on only at certain times of the day when they’ll be needed. Using this method you won’t be drawing and using electricity when it’s not needed throughout most of the day.
Automotive
Car: Make sure your car is properly maintained. Keep your car tuned up and the tires properly inflated. This will not only help ensure your car keeps running efficiently it can also help with gas mileage. If you don’t need a car to get to where you are going don’t use one out of habit. Walk, ride a bike or take public transportation whenever possible. Ride it to work, to run errands, or to have fun. When you ride a bike everyone benefits. You help conserve limited oil resources, you’re not polluting and you are getting some exercise.
Fuel: Try to save on C02 emissions and fuel by maintaining a consistent speed and don’t go over the speed limit. Rapid acceleration and unnecessary breaking can decrease fuel economy. Remember, there’s always cruise control.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by people, products, businesses or events.
What are greenhouse gases?
There are a variety of gasses in the earth’s atmosphere. Insulating gases such as methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide and ozone are referred to as “greenhouse” gases because they trap and hold heat like the glass in a greenhouse. The presence of additional greenhouse gases causes gradual increases in temperature on the surface of the earth thus causing changes in weather patterns, sea levels and other natural cycles that have a direct impact to life on the planet.
How can you manage a carbon footprint?
We can all take steps to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Decrease your carbon emissions by developing alternative projects which utilize solar power and wind energy.
A simple flip of a switch is all it takes for you to get involved in the fight against global warming. When not in use, turn lights off, unplug electronics, computers, cell phones and chargers.
How can reforestation help?
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas responsible for the increase in the Earth’s average surface air and ocean temperatures around the world. Forests extract pollutants and carbon dioxide from the air. At your home well-placed landscaping can help you cut energy costs. Plant trees so they provide shade for your house and help it stay cool during hot summer months.
Seed Our Future Campaign
Be a part of the solution and join the campaign that is designed to help reduce the effects of global warming. Plant a tree. With more trees there will be more carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere.
Volunteer and get directly involved in a reforestation project. Or you can contribute to a reforestation project by giving the gift of trees. Trees planted to mark special occasions or in honor of a loved one is a gift that can be shared and will last a lifetime.
Educate children and get them involved in activities that will help them realize and understand the impact of global warming. Once they realize the importance of what needs to be done they can start making productive efforts in order to slow down or even prevent global warming for future generations.
Every Seed Our Future campaign strategy can be customized to suit any school function, community project, event or special occasion.
Eco-Friendly Home and Office Tips
Use Energy Saving Appliances and Equipment
Consider the environmental costs of major decisions and purchases.
Using energy efficient designs, ENERGY STAR appliances and equipment help save energy allowing them to use less energy to perform regular tasks. ENERGY STAR labeled computer use 70% less electricity than computers without this designation and automatically adjusts to a low-power mode when not in use.
Energy Efficient Commuting
Use innovative ways to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on your way to and from work.
One-third of all traffic is commuters. When possible use alternative transportation. Use less energy for your commute by switching to public transportation, carpooling, biking or telecommuting. Encourage your employer to offer commuter benefits that address limited or expensive parking, reduce traffic congestion, improve employee recruiting and retention and minimize the environmental impacts associated with drive-alone commuting. If you must drive, to save fuel and lower emissions go slower and be sure tires are properly inflated. Also, when relocating or changing jobs try to live close to work. You can check the fuel efficiency of your vehicle using EPA’s and DOE’s fuel economy Web site (http://www.fueleconomy.gov).
Green Power
Green power offers a number of environmental and economic benefits over conventional electricity, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, and it helps increase clean energy supply.
The sun and wind are renewable energy sources that can be used to generate environmentally friendly electricity. Buying green power is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your organization’s environmental performance. Partnering with the EPA can help organizations lower the transaction costs of buying green power, reduce its carbon footprint, and communicate its leadership to key stakeholders. There are also a number of steps you can take to make your home greener. Modify your house to generate your own green power by installing solar panels and taking advantage of incentives offered for renewable energy in your state.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost
Help conserve energy and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.
Avoiding extra packaging saves both energy and landfill space. Reusing packaging material saves more energy than recycling. Recycle office paper, newspapers, beverage containers, electronic equipment and batteries.
Yard and kitchen waste (leaves/grass/vegetable scraps) are 30% of trash. This amount can be reduced by composting. Biodegradable products have the ability to break down rather quickly and safely into the raw materials of nature and dissipate into the environment. Sustainable disposal of any product requires that its wastes are returned to the earth and able to biodegrade.
Heating & Cooling
Save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your home or office by implementing effective measures for cutting energy costs.
Lower your thermostat in the winter. Raise it in the summer. Keep air filters clean and have heating and cooling equipment serviced regularly by a licensed contractor. When replacing old equipment, choose a high efficiency model and make sure it’s installed properly.
Sealing and insulating ducts in attics and crawlspaces will improve the efficiency of a home. When replacing windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows for better performance. Getting a home energy audit will help detect air leaks, identify poorly insulated areas and will evaluate the over-all energy efficiency of your home or office.
Lighting & Controlling Energy Use
Decrease your office expenses, lower your energy bills and operate more efficiently by cutting back on unnecessary energy use.
Shut off unnecessary lights throughout the day and at night or installing motion-activated sensors. By replacing conventional bulbs with ENERGY STAR bulbs will not only help save money it will help save the environment. Unplug electronics from the wall when you are not using them. Even when turned off computers and other electronic devices still use small amounts of energy.
Water Conservation
Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water. Conserving water can help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Saving water around the home and in the office is easy. Get in the habit of turning the water off while shaving or brushing your teeth. Water the lawn or landscape during the coolest part of the day and only when needed. Don’t let faucet and toilet repairs go unattended. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day! Look for products with EPA’s WaterSense label.
Purchase Eco-Friendly Supplies
Stock your home and office with products that are made from recycled materials, are biodegradable or have reduced chemical content.
Finding eco-friendly supplies has never been easier! Buy only post-consumer recycled paper products, including journals and supplies such as paper towels, tissues, toilet paper and even break-room provisions.
School
Teachers and faculty members should continue to learn about and teach students about the impacts of climate change and the effect it has on the planet.
It’s important to educate our youth as to how their actions and decisions today might impact their future and the wellbeing of our planet. They need to be made aware of steps they can take to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable energy. Student campaigns should be established to develop ways to decrease their emissions and help increase energy efficiency on campus.
While at school every student should understand and utilize a reducing, reusing and recycling regimen. These effective programs will help children understand that they are responsible for their actions and how their actions can have a direct effect on other circumstances.
Students should be taught about the potential effects global warming could have on ecosystems, wildlife and their habitats.
Reduce Plastic Bag Consumption
Start using reusable shopping bags. Refuse a bag. If you don’t need one, don’t take one. Reuse plastic bags you have accumulated as garbage liners.
Outdoors
Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Smart Landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduce your household’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Use a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings.
Plant a tree with a child
Teaching children to love and care for the planet is the most important thing we can do to insure the future of humankind. Trees beautify an area and clean the air. Take a walk in the woods, or plant trees which store CO2.
Spread the Word
Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.