Recipes and harvesting tips are available for the point and click. Plant a Tree, Cool the Globe Concerned environmentalists caution that the average temperatures of earth's land masses, oceans, and atmosphere are increasing at an alarming rate. Scientists suggest that these increases result from burning fossil fuels and the resulting release of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere. At the American Forests Web site, you can use an online calculator to measure the effect of your lifestyle on the accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide and discover how many trees you'll need to plant to absorb the amount of carbon dioxide that you produce. The benefits of planting trees are many.
Trees attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
They minimize storm water runoff into rivers, reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, and improve air quality by providing a natural filtering system. When trees are harvested without concern for the long-term viability of commercial forests, the environment suffers from massive soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and a dramatic reduction in oxygen supply. SmartWood, a program of the Rain Forest Alliance, monitors the world of commercial forestry, awarding its seal of approval to forest managers who adopt sustainable forestry practices, reduce environmental damage, and maximize the social and economic benefits of timber harvesting in local communities. At this Web site you'll learn more about this forest management certification program and discover which timber producers and companies have received SmartWood certification. Plant Fibers Photos and information about fibers abound at this Web site devoted to exploring the significance of fiber cells in a wide range of plants.