ACRES FOR THE ATMOSPHERE
TREES NC is proud to partner with Acres for the Atmosphere, Polar Bears International ®, the North Carolina Zoological Park, and organizations around the world to plant acres of trees for the atmosphere.
Graduates of the 2009 Zoo Keeper Leadership Camp in Churchill, Manitoba created the initiative Acres for the Atmosphere (AFTA), both for conservation education and to take immediate action. With the continued support of Polar Bears International® (PBI) and American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK), we intend to reduce the prevalence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere. Our initiative is designed around three objectives that will enable us to accomplish this goal. We will increase carbon sequestration by greening areas with vegetative plantings or trees, decrease CO2 emissions within our local communities, and raise awareness in our communities in order to curb our carbon addiction. Our program launches year to year in correspondence with each year’s Zoo Keeper Leadership Camp. This year’s campaign starts October 1st, 2010.
Visit Acres for the Atmosphere for more information.
SWEATING TO SAVE POLAR BEARS
SEAGROVE — In the middle of a Seagrove field Saturday, underneath the blazing hot sun, it was hard to ignore the irony that volunteers were digging in the hard dirt, sweat pouring off their faces, hoping to save sea ice for polar bears.
Carrying out an initiative called Acres for the Atmosphere, N.C. Zoo staff members, TREES NC and other volunteers were planting trees for polar bears.
In 2009, Polar Bears International (PBI), along with the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK), met in Churchill, Manitoba, known as the polar bear capital of world. There the two groups discussed the future for polar bears and their belief that immediate action was needed against global warming jeopardizing polar bear habitats.
Some scientists predict that in five years the levels of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere will reach the point of destroying sea ice forever. Sea ice is used by polar bears to find mates, construct maternal dens, give birth to cubs, and as a platform for hunting. As the top predator of the arctic, the decline of polar bears would affect the entire arctic ecosystem.
Together, the two groups created Acres for the Atmosphere, an initiative that promotes planting trees, one of the most effective ways of removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Zookeeper Marissa Krouse and N.C. Zoo Animal Management Supervisor Jeff Owen attended the leadership camp in Manitoba. They returned to Randolph County excited to begin making a difference locally. Krouse presented the idea to local environmental group, TreesNC, whose board voted to partner with and support the project.
“We’re a global organization with efforts focused locally,” said Krouse.
Through a grant from the Randolph Friends of the Zoo, donations from the AAZK and N.C. Zoo volunteers and the “Moonlight Polar Bear Walk” fund-raising event held with the Friends of the Zoo, funds needed to carry out the project were raised.
N.C. Zoo Arbor Supervisor and TreesNC board member Bob McCrory immediately went to work figuring out how many trees would make up an acre and arranging for the selection of trees to plant.
“We determined that each tree will cover approximately a 400-square-foot area and based on that we determined we would need to plant around 107 trees to cover one acre of land,” McCrory said. “Based on where we were planting, we determined that the Red Maple, Dogwood, Redbud and Loblolly Pine would be the best match for the site.”
Owen donated an acre of his land to be used in the planting.
“We had the space we weren’t using and I thought this would be a good way to jump-start the project,” said Owen of the Acres for the Atmosphere initiative. “I’m glad we had the resources to make it happen and there is extra satisfaction in it.”
“We like the idea of planting in parks and areas where people can enjoy the trees, but this is the pilot year of our program and we don’t mind planting on private land,” said Krouse. “The most important thing is that the trees are in the ground.”
The project was made possible by donations and contributions from Taylor’s Nursery and Gilmore Plant and Bulb Company, Subway in Pittsboro, AVS in Asheboro, and vehicles and equipment furnished by the N.C. Zoo. Volunteers provided the sweat equity.
Balfour Elementary School guidance counselor, Mary Lou Diener, and husband, Terry Dawes, were among those volunteers.
“When I learned about the project I really wanted to help out because it just made sense for me,” said Diener, also a TreesNC board member. “If everybody makes little changes then it comes together to make big changes.”
According to McCrory, one acre of forest absorbs the equivalent of one year of vehicle driving, approximately 26,000 miles, the equivalent of 1.5 tons of carbon.
To prove the difference that individuals can make by planting a tree at their home, McCrory offered the information that a young, healthy tree gives off a net cooling effect equal to 10 room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
“We certainly want to thank all the volunteers who ‘bear-ed’ with us in the hot temperatures to plant Saturday. We believe that making a difference in your own community is synonymous with fighting on the front lines of polar bear conservation,” said McCrory. “We want to lead by example and install a sense of hope that everyone can make a difference.”
TreesNC President Owen George said he was glad the initiative had been brought before his environmental group.
“Seeing the hard work and dedication of all those volunteers really renewed the motivation behind our organization,” said George.
Although the ground was hard and the air hot, volunteers left the planting site knowing they were making a difference in the big picture of things.
“It’s very satisfying to see a tree in the ground,” said Diener.
— Robin Breedlove
