Lebanon's cedars threatened by global warming

BAROUK, Lebanon — There's no escaping the cedar tree in Lebanon.

A cedar is emblazoned on the country's flag, and another on the planes of the national airline. It is on the currency, on passports and on all official documents. It is proudly worn on the uniforms of soldiers and crudely plastered on tourist knickknacks from ashtrays to fridge magnets.

Cedars also have played an integral part in Lebanon's volatile political life. Several Christian factions in the country's civil war adopted the cedar as their emblem; one called itself the Guardian of the Cedars. When Lebanese took to the streets to demand the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005, their protest was dubbed the Cedar Revolution.

And such is the importance of the cedar that onetime Druze warlord Walid Jumblatt, now a leading politician, planted land mines around the trees in his Shouf mountain fiefdom during the civil war era, to protect them from loggers, militias and other marauders.

But the imposing, majestic tree that has defined Lebanon since biblical times now faces a potentially bigger threat to its existence than war or political overkill.

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The painting is by Edward Lear

Tropical Rainforest And Mountain Species May Be Threatened By Global Warming

As Earth's climate has warmed in recent decades, the geographical ranges of well-studied bird, butterfly, and plant species in the US and Europe have moved northward, following the gradual northward shift of their familiar climates. Other studies have shown that species in the US and Europe have shifted to higher elevations, as temperature zones on mountains have moved upward.

In contrast, surprisingly little attention has been given to the effects of warming climate on tropical plants and animals. Colwell's article in Science magazine this week may change that.

The report points out that tropical climates have warmed too (more than 3/4 degrees Centigrade [1.4 degrees Fahrenheit] since 1975), and climate models predict an additional increase of more than 3 degrees Centigrade (nearly 6 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next century in the tropical forests of Central and South America. This much warming would shift temperature zones uphill about 600 m (nearly 2000 feet) in elevation above sea level. Tropical species, like those at higher latitudes, will likely be driven to higher elevations by these changes, following the climate zones they are suited for.

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The painting is by Nancy Merkle

Tree planting: Antidote to global warming

Environmental neglect on the part of the citizenry in general has given rise to the environmental problems we are experiencing today. The Kyoto Protocol which is the world’s primary International Agreement on Global Warming has been proffering possible solutions to this environmental imbalance including the 2007 United Nations Conference in Bali, Indonesia, on environmental neglect. The Protocol now covers over 160 countries presently. Yet we continue to deal with the environment with utmost impunity and neglect at the peril of everybody. The lack of awareness as to know the benefits of tree planting has added to the continuous problem encumbering the fragile environment.

In recent time, the emphasis on the issue of climate change globally is on the rise particularly as the challenge is narrowed to global warming. Empirical evidence of the destructive consequences of environmental neglect has lent more credence to the scientific revelation of climate change. The planet earth is now better described as the planet in peril, (courtesy of CNN). One will discover that environmental scientists and other scientists in related field on the environment have been breaking their heads through research in order to lay to rest this particular environmental challenge that is belabouring humans, flora and fauna.

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The painting is by Nancy Merkle

The Sierra forests can prevent Global Warming

California's Global Warming Solutions Act is a landmark attempt to cap greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the state's economy. Signed into law in September 2006, the California Air Resources Board is figuring out the precise formula by which the state will reduce emissions 25 percent by 2020.

Imagine a grand formula that somehow left out — cars. Or industrial manufacturing. Leaving out one of these huge emissions sources would render any climate legislation toothless.

Fortunately, both will likely be accounted for. But will forests? Judging by recent statements, it isn't clear whether the state recognizes the outsize role California's forests play in naturally absorbing carbon emissions, or the quantity of carbon dioxide released when these forests are irresponsibly clear-cut.

Deforestation and logging account for one-fifth of all global carbon emissions — more than all trains, planes and, yes, automobiles combined. Any serious attempt to address California's contributions to climate change must include an understanding of what's happening in the forests of the Sierra Nevada.

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The painting is by Laura Tasheiko

What Is Global Warming?

What Is Global Warming? Just a reminder lest we forget

Earth is naturally insulated by a delicate balance of heat-trapping (or "greenhouse") gases in the atmosphere. When the sun shines on the Earth, some of that heat is absorbed, keeping Earth warm enough to support life.

The problem is that over the last century, we humans have been releasing more and more carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere when we burn fuels and cut down forests. These additional gases have upset the natural balance of our atmosphere, trapping more heat than is healthy for the Earth.

The result is human-caused global warming, which brings serious threats from increased flooding to the spread of disease to the disruption of agriculture in many parts of the world.

Scientists tell us that stopping global warming is urgent -- we have just a few years to turn around the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst effects. The good news is that we can achieve these emissions reductions with effective national policies and international treaties. We must insist that businesses and governments join individuals around the world to greatly increase energy efficiency, widely adopt renewable energy, and commit to stopping climate change.

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The painting is by Laura Tasheiko

Save Ohio buckeye tree from Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The fight is on in Ohio to save the buckeye tree from heading north to, of all places, Michigan.

Environmentalists say global warming threatens to change the habitats of many plants and trees, including Ohio's iconic buckeye tree. They say climate changes likely will push the growing range for the Ohio buckeye tree farther north.

Although found in other parts of the Midwest, the buckeye tree is the official state tree of Ohio and serves as the sports mascot for Ohio State University, whose football rival is the University of Michigan.

Activists launched a campaign Friday in Columbus called Save The Buckeye, which calls on Congress and the next president to reduce global warming pollution. They plan to hold rallies at football tailgating events.

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The painting is by Laura Tasheiko

NFA official advises NAADS to embrace tree planting

The forest coordinator in the National Forestry Authority (NFA) Rebecca Sabaganzi has appealed to NAADS to encourage people to plant trees so as to reduce global warming in the country.

Global warming has been blamed for increasing food scarcity in the country because of increased dry spells especially in Karamoja region and flooding in Teso sub region.

While presenting a paper at a workshop in Bushenyi recently Sabaganzi said that concentrating in projects like rearing of goats and cows only would not help reduce poverty in the country since water levels are reducing due to limited forest cover.

She says forest products like timber are on high demand within and outside the country because they are essential in the making of timber and paper.

The forest officer also says that people will benefit from the current carbon trade where billions of shillings have been earmarked by developed to developing countries for carbon trade.

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The painting is by Laura Tasheiko

Ancient Oak Trees Help Reduce Global Warming

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2008) — The battle to reduce carbon emissions is at the heart of many eco-friendly efforts, and researchers from the University of Missouri have discovered that nature has been lending a hand. Researchers at the Missouri Tree Ring Laboratory in the Department of Forestry discovered that trees submerged in freshwater aquatic systems store carbon for thousands of years, a significantly longer period of time than trees that fall in a forest, thus keeping carbon out of the atmosphere.

“If a tree is submerged in water, its carbon will be stored for an average of 2,000 years,” said Richard Guyette, director of the MU Tree Ring Lab and research associate professor of forestry in the School of Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “If a tree falls in a forest, that number is reduced to an average of 20 years, and in firewood, the carbon is only stored for one year.”

The team studied trees in northern Missouri, a geographically unique area with a high level of riparian forests (forests that have natural water flowing through them). They discovered submerged oak trees that were as old as 14,000 years, potentially some of the oldest discovered in the world. This carbon storage process is not just ancient; it continues even today as additional trees become submerged, according to Guyette.

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Bamboo can play a deep role in saving the globe: scientist

CHENNAI: “Everybody is talking about the problem of global warming, but I have a solution for it,” says N.Barathi and displays a bamboo sapling wrapped like a bouquet.

Having sensed disbelief, he explains further, “Bamboo acts as a carbon sink. It absorbs excess Co2 [a greenhouse gas and cause of global warming] in the air with three to four times more efficiency than any other tree. Which means, the more bamboos we plant, the more Co2 is absorbed and thus we can stop contributing to global warming,” he says.

An agricultural scientist, Mr.Barathi worked with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore as assistant professor between 1984 and 1986 and ten years ago started his own tissue culture plant manufacturing company Growmore Biotech in Hosur.

Bamboo, he says, can effectively clean water pollution from septic tanks and factory effluents as it has a natural affinity for nitrogen, phosphorous and heavy metals.

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Trees - The Natural Answer To Global Warming

by Jeff Miller

Are trees the natural answer to global warming? Research shows that trees are great for the environment! Through cleaning and cooling the air around them, they grow by absorbing carbon dioxide and give off oxygen that we need to breathe.

Plant Trees to Save Energy & Money Have you heard the phrase, "money doesn't grow on trees?' "Well, it can and it does," says Lin Diacont, President of the Virginia Green Industry Council, "besides beautifying our homes and communities, trees are natural air conditioners and energy savers! Simply by following a few basic tree-planting rules, you can save energy and money on utility bills." For example, an acre of young trees annually produces enough oxygen to keep 18 people alive and at the same time, absorbs the amount of carbon dioxide produced by driving a car 26,000 miles! Studies conducted by research universities have documented air-conditioning energy saving as much as 50 percent or more by shading the windows and walls of your home. For, tree leaves not only block the sun's rays but give off moisture that cools the air in a process called evapotranspiration. Trees similarly make efficient sound barriers from traffic and factories. Each 100 foot width of trees absorbs about 6-8 decibels of sound intensity. This reduction would be welcomed to residents along a busy highway, which can generate as much as 72 decibels. So, the next time you plant a tree for its aesthetic appeal, be aware that by following a few guidelines, you will not only beautify your yard but improve air quality, lower energy bills and reduce unwelcome noise.

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