Does planting trees make it OK to drive an SUV?

[blue3231]

Do trees make it OK to drive an SUV?
5/27/2007, 12:48 p.m. CDT
By MICHAEL HILL
The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — If you plant some trees, is it OK to drive an Escalade?

The question isn't as silly as it sounds. People worried about global warming increasingly are trying to "offset" the carbon dioxide — the leading greenhouse gas — they spew into the atmosphere when they drive, fly or flick on a light. One idea popular with the eco-conscious is to have trees planted for them. You get to keep driving and flying, but those trees are supposed to suck in your trail of carbon.

Whole forests have been funded by tree-loving celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Coldplay, and more modest packages tailored to typical consumers are proliferating.

But some researchers say planting trees — while a good thing — is at best a marginal solution to global warming. Still others decry tree planters who continue to jet off to Cannes, drive their SUVs or generally fail to reduce their fuel-hungry lifestyle. To those critics, plantings and other carbon offsets are like the medieval practice of selling indulgences to wash away sins: It may feel good, but it doesn't solve much.

Article continues at link: http://www.al.com/newsflash/national...ylist=national

[Quickening]

I think there needs to be a two pronged (at least) attack. Work on upping fuel efficiency and expand on alternative resources while at the same time help nature by planting forests and trees.

[Ming]

I have planted about 100 rare and unusual trees on my acre of property, including Michelia, Cunninghamia Lanceolota, Araucaria Bidwillii, Magnolia Biondii, Pluots, Japanese Persimmons, Texas Red Buckeye and Diospyros Texana. About 60 different species of trees and cultivars thereof.

But I never did it because I felt guilted into it. I just like collecting unusual trees. I've got a virtual arboretum in my yard.

And I think my "ark" of trees on one acre is better in the end than a Hollywood funded 100 acres of mass machine-planting of one type of tree. (Although I'm sure some ultra-greenie would find more than a few trees in my yard they'd classify as "invasive", not to mention the 10 varieties of Bamboo... )

[Butz]

That's not a bad idea. But how many trees need to be grown to make up for one jet plane?

[Quickening]

Originally Posted by Ming

I have planted about 100 rare and unusual trees on my acre of property, including Michelia, Cunninghamia Lanceolota, Araucaria Bidwillii, Magnolia Biondii, Pluots, Japanese Persimmons, Texas Red Buckeye and Diospyros Texana. About 60 different species of trees and cultivars thereof.

But I never did it because I felt guilted into it. I just like collecting unusual trees. I've got a virtual arboretum in my yard.

And I think my "ark" of trees on one acre is better in the end than a Hollywood funded 100 acres of mass machine-planting of one type of tree.

Wow, I'd really like to see a picture of that mixture of trees.

At our 700 acre ranch north of San Antonio, we are losing some trees to Live Oak Decline, which is really sad. But we continue to plant more and more trees to make up for the losses. At another, smaller property we have planted at least 100 Live Oaks.

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by Butz

That's not a bad idea. But how many trees need to be grown to make up for one jet plane?

I wonder if John Travolta knows the answer.............

[PRO_USA1776]

Well I have planted 800 trees, mostly sugar maples, white oak, pin oak, black walnut, english oak, and assorted fruit trees. I did it because of the Asian (Chinese) ash boring bettle and dutch elm disease (chinese again, cause found by a dutch scientist) have killed acres of my trees. Notwithstanding the fact that I love trees and my favorites are Sugar maples and white oak. Bottom line, hollywood can go take a flying leap, I love trees and someday I will have maple syrup for sale...

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Quickening

Wow, I'd really like to see a picture of that mixture of trees.

At our 700 acre ranch north of San Antonio, we are losing some trees to Live Oak Decline, which is really sad. But we continue to plant more and more trees to make up for the losses. At another, smaller property we have planted at least 100 Live Oaks.

Your wish is granted. Here's a quick snap I just took from my front porch. Kinda hard to get my whole property in a photo due to the number of trees. This is just a sliver. Among other native oak and pine trees the easy ones to make out here are a Mayhaw in the foreground, and a Paw Paw (tasty fruit) in the background. Behind that is Euscaphis japonica, a native hickory to the right of the Mayhaw, and one of three Araucaria Bidwilli (Bunya-Bunya Tree, an Australian relative of Jurassic-era conifers) behind them all in the middle but completely obsucred.

Needless to say I don't have much of a lawn and nowhere in my yard is there a huge "square" of turf grass for me to mow like Hank Hill. Mostly just meandering swaths here and there.



As for Live Oaks, I blame the subdivisions, etc. for the decline. I mean, that's all they plant. Few other oaks make their list for whatever reason. And when a disease comes through? Yep, its over.

It's like the Elms people overplanted early last century.

Overplanting one type of tree = Monoculture = Bad. It's OK to like a type of tree, but the Live Oak thing in Texas borders on dangerous obsession. Then again, I don't expect many people to go out of their way to study the rare trees that grow well in their local climate when they can just go to Lowe's or the Bulk Landscaper and pick up 100 of the same tree mass grown on farms...

Quercus buckleyi, Quercus falcata, Chinquapin Oak, Shumard Red Oak, etc. are all fine Texas Oaks that should be planted more.

[HoosierRon]

I had a tree with tiny leaves and big clums of orange berries. It died. Yesterday I cut it down and burned it. I guess I am relegated to public transportation the rest of my life.

[ronald mcretard]

Originally Posted by Quickening

I think there needs to be a two pronged (at least) attack. Work on upping fuel efficiency and expand on alternative resources while at the same time help nature by planting forests and trees.

I agree.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Quickening

I think there needs to be a two pronged (at least) attack. Work on upping fuel efficiency and expand on alternative resources while at the same time help nature by planting forests and trees.

It's like how Americans were asked to plant "Victory Gardens" during WW2 to supplement their food supply in their own back yards. Today sheeple just want to have an empty square of heavily fertilized grass in their yards and hope that the supermarket can provide for them no matter what may come.

Worried about climate change, even just polluted air at the local level? Mowing turfgrass with your choke-inducing push mower all summer long won't help there.

[Butz]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

I had a tree with tiny leaves and big clums of orange berries. It died. Yesterday I cut it down and burned it. I guess I am relegated to public transportation the rest of my life.

No, you are relegated to walking for the rest of your life, you are not allowed to breath while walking though

[ronald mcretard]

Originally Posted by Ming

Worried about climate change, even just polluted air at the local level? Mowing turfgrass with your choke-inducing push mower all summer long won't help there.

lol, here's your answer to that...

[Ming]

Originally Posted by ronald mcretard

lol, here's your answer to that...

Forget that! I tried that here, and maybe its just the type of grass I grow (or should I say "what survives"), or that I'm trying it in southeast Texas, but I was pouring sweat and getting very little done. Great workout, but watch out for heat exhaustion!

I still keep the mower in my garage and only use it near my front door if I've run out of gas and people are coming over, and ONLY after sundown...

[BrickTamland]

There's nothing wrong with planting trees. However, people can not just plant some trees and continue to buy H2's en masse. It is a stopgap, like the article says, that will help tide us over until a more encompassing solution can be found.

As for lawnmowers, we have an electric. Plug n' play.