Trees are the Lungs of the Earth: "Archangel Ancient Tree Archive"

 

The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is a most amazing organization with an essential mission.  Their mission, in three words, is to "Propagate, Reforest, Archive".  They want to propagate the world's oldest trees before they're gone by cloning them (more later); they want to reforest the earth with the offspring of these ancient trees; and finally, to archive the genetics (the DNA) of these great and ancient trees before they disappear from the earth.  From their website (www.ancienttreearchive.org):  "Trees are excellent at sequestering carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, and providing beneficial aerosols and medicines. They are essentially a global warming solution." 

The organization is creating a "living library of old-growth tree genetics by cloning these old growth trees through traditional and advanced horticultural propagation for the purpose of future research and functional reforestation".

Their Michigan warehouse houses thousands of trees that have been cloned from the biggest and best trees in the forest.  This is truly selective breeding.  

Trees have DNA.  In fact they have more DNA than humans, which has made cloning trees very difficult.  The Ancient Tree Archive organization has figured out how to clone trees, like Redwoods, and by so doing, will allow these cloned trees to grow just like the originals--tall and strong.  100% of the DNA from the original tree goes into the cloned tree.  Propagating trees from clones is better than propagating from seeds because seeds only capture 50% of the DNA.  And further, the purity of the breed is guaranteed with cloning.  The success rate of propagating using the cloning method is only 3%, but at the scale that AATA organization is using, that becomes many successes.

So they go after the oldest trees they can find.  Cloning young trees is easier, but cloning old trees captures more of the DNA that they want.  They cloned a John Muir giant Sequoia and a 2000 year old bald cypress tree from Florida.

AATA is a non profit organization funded by private donations.  I think what they're doing is critical for the survival of our planet.  Give someone a birthday or Christmas present by donating to AATA.  www.ancienttreearchive.org.

Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020

On February 11, 2020, U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal from California's 47th district, introduced HR 5845.  On February 12, 2020 it was referred to the subcommittee on water resources and environment.

"This bill sets forth requirements related to waste and recycling collection systems for a variety of products and materials, including plastics.

The bill makes certain producers of products (e.g., packaging, paper, single-use products, beverage containers, or food service products) fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting the products after consumer use. In addition, the bill establishes (1) minimum percentages of products that must be reused, recycled, or composted; and (2) an increasing percentage of recycled content that must be contained in beverage containers.
Beginning on January 1, 2022, the bill phases out a variety of single-use products, such as plastic utensils. The bill also sets forth provisions to encourage the reduction of single-use products, including by establishing programs to refund consumers for returning beverage containers and by establishing a tax on carryout bags.
The bill creates a temporary moratorium on new or expanded permits for facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities.
The Environmental Protection Agency must publish guidelines for a national standardized labeling system for recycling and composting receptacles. Producers must include labels on their products that are easy to read and indicate whether the products are recyclable, compostable, or reusable.
Finally, the bill establishes limitations on the export of plastic waste to other countries."
The best thing we all can do at this point is to contact our congressional representative and let them know that this bill need to be passed.  In order to find out who your congressman is, click here.
Right now there are 79 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.  Make sure your representative stands behind this bill.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a mass of trash spread across 620,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean with more than one trillion pieces of microplastics.  And, of course, fish are consuming the microplastics and the microplastics just travel right on up the food chain.  A June 5, 2019 article in Environmental Science and Technology by Kieran Cox, et al. "evaluated the number of microplastic particles in commonly consumed foods in relation to their recommended daily intake."  They "estimate that annual microplastics consumption by humans ranges from 39000 to 52000 particles a year."  Drinking water from single use plastic bottles would add another 90,000 particles per year, versus 4000 if you use glass or stainless containers.

In a CNET article, "Can we kill plastic?", August 3, 2020, Alison DeNisco Rayome, states, that, "even if discarded, plastic ends up in a landfill and can last there for up to 600 years."

Just look around you; look in your refrigerator, everything is plastic.  We can never get rid of plastic.

But we can, in our own way, reduce our use of single use plastic items.

And what about recycling?  Rayome states "In 2017, only about 8% of plastic produced in the U.S. was recycled.  Global recycling averages closer to 15% to 20% today."

And "virgin" plastic bottles are less expensive to produce than plastic bottles made from recycled plastic.  So what to do?

Start by using water bottles made of non-single use plastic or stainless steel.

Buy stuff that isn't wrapped in plastic.

Buy stuff made with recycled plastic.  Buy stuff that can be disposed of safely.

Be Aware!  Think about that Great Pacific Garbage Patch as you decide what to buy.  And be careful how you dispose of the plastics that you end up with.  That item is going to last 600 years, somewhere.

Just Be Aware!