Do you know that 2011 had been named the International Year of Forests by the United Nations (UN)? This was done to help raise the awareness of “sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.”
Throughout the year, there will be events including the Global Forum and Symposium of Model Forests (in Burgos, Spain) next week, the Bulgaria Professional Holiday of Foresters in April, Tree Fun: Family day at Fredriksdal in Sweden in May, the 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Pines in June, and Kids4Trees plantings throughout the year.
So what can you do to help? You can have a tropical tree planted in the Brazilian rainforest – and it’s free! Sponsored by Plant a Fish, Australian Organics, Jade Yoga, Juice Beauty, Kayu, Kiehl’s, Kusmi Tea, Moksa Organics, Peacock Republic, Rare El’ements Hair Collection, Stem Organics, My Earth 360, Aveda, and Namaste Light, you can visit the Help Plant 10,000 Rainforest Trees site to sign up for your tree. You will also be entered in a drawing for products from the sponsoring companies. The tree will be planted by Trees for the Future, which has been helping community’s plant trees since 1989. Trees for the Future picks trees specifically suited for each community it helps.
The site is the brainchild of Rain Tees and Living Green Magazine and the page contains some astonishing facts about the rainforest. One is that the rainforests used to cover 14% of the earth’s land surface, but now it has diminished to only 6%. If 10,000 new trees are planted, it will cover a new rainforest that is a million square feet in area. Due to deforestation, 137 plants, animals, and species are being lost every day. And one and a half acre of rainforest in Brazil is being lost every second – EVERY SECOND.
So, take a few minutes out of your day, visit Help Plant 10,000 Rainforest Trees, and sign up to plant a free tree to help the rainforest.