Trees mean more than paper

Interest Reignited
Yesterday, my concern for trees and forests was renewed after learning about the fires burning in Santa Barbara and other parts of southern California.[1-2] If you’ve spent any time in Santa Barbara, perhaps you’ll sympathize with the destruction of such a beautiful place and the awful image of fires pouring like lava over the mountains in the horizon. I read an emails with disbelieving eyes about terrible fires that have ravaged lands, destroyed homes and offices, and forced the evacuation of families. Those who were lucky had a few minutes to collect a few irreplacables before fleeing. Many have already lost their entire homes. Let’s hope for the residents of Santa Barbara and other southern California residents impacted by recent fires.

Global Green Loss
A destructive event like this leaves a devastating and complex impact on the environment. Sadly, the disappearance of forests has been ongoing and worldwide. Last month, a BBC article citing an EU-commissioned study made the bold statement that the “global economy is losing more money from the disappearance of forests than through the current banking crisis.”[3] Experts estimate the annual loss at $2-$5 trillion per year, more than double the losses of the financial sector by the date the article was written.

What can be more saddening is that the poor are disproportionally affected. The rural poor who fight starvation, unproductive land and lack of water, resort to slash and burn tactics clearing forests for agriculture. But this very act further degrades the land. Deforestation and poverty are inextricably linked.

Feature: Plant with Purpose (formerly Floresta)
I have recent enthusiasm for a charity whose mission is to break this cycle of deforestation and poverty, through “healing the land and its people.” Floresta reforests, educates and trains, and develops local communities in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Mexico, and America.[4] Last month, I received a picture of a Haitian village of 37 about 40 miles south of Port au Prince that I helped to support. Since 2002, Plant with Purpose has been training these residents in new agricultural methods and providing microfinance loans. I was further reassured of their commitment to the cause when I read the thank you letter in my hands was made of 100% post-consumer recycled paper and printed with soy-based ink.

[1] General information can be found at: “Montecito Tea Fire.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montecito_Tea_Fire and also[2] Chawkins, Steve; Sahagun, Louis; Weiss, Kenneth R. (2008-11-14). "Montecito fire consumes 111 homes", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 15 November 2008. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sbfire15-2008nov15,0,3157160.story
[3] Black, Richard. “Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis’”. Oct 10, 2008. BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7662565.stm
[4] Floresta. http://www.floresta.org/