A long time ago, thirty years to be exact, a young forester joined the ranks of the Colorado State Forest Service.  His name was Philip Hoefer.  He had the task of seeing that community forests throughout Colorado were taken care of.  Thirty years ago hardly anyone knew what a community forest was, few communities had a tree board, and fewer still had a paid forester.  Armed with great enthusiasm, unwavering determination, a great personality and true belief in his mission Phil traveled the State preaching community forestry.

A lot has happened in thirty years.  Look at any community throughout the State and you will see the results of Phil Hoefer’s efforts.

Another thing which has happened is Phil decided to retire!  His last official day with the Colorado State Forest Service will be June 30.  His last official day of helping community forestry throughout Colorado will be when he has taken his last and final breath.  Phil may be retiring but he will still be active in community forestry and with the Colorado Tree Coalition.

Furthermore, we had several donations: Einstein Bros. Bagels (on 9^th Street in Denver) donated 250 delicious bagels; King Soopers gave a gift certificate for cream cheese; Conoco donated passes to the Denver Zoo for our Poster Contest Winners.  

With all of these great people and organizations involved, it was no doubt that this event was a complete success. Together we made a positive contribution to Colorado’s future. So, if you have an event you would like to plan for next Colorado Cares Day, now is the time, otherwise, mark the date on your calendar and join in one of the excellent events in your community. More information on Colorado Cares Day can be found at www.state.co.us/coloradocares/. For information on this particular event contact: Melissa McHale at melissamchale@hotmail.com. 

(Editor’s Note: This article is being reprinted with the permission of the Windsor Beacon)

Wendy Ball of Windsor received one of two 2001 Lawrence Enerson Awards from the National Arbor Day Foundation at a special awards ceremony held in Nebraska City, Nebraska on Saturday, April 28.

The Colorado Tree Coalition has provided funding to plant numerous new trees in communities around the state in past years.  2001 appears to be another banner year for CTC-assisted plantings throughout Colorado.  In addition to the CTC grant funded planting projects in 2001, supplemental tree planting money has been made available to four projects around the State, funded by Plant-It 2000.  Plant-It 2000 is an international tree planting organization based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  Their mission focuses on planting and maintaining indigenous trees on public lands throughout the U.S. or in suitable locations around the world. 

  Plant-It 2000 has helped sponsor our grant program over the last four years, and has added more than $21,500 in tree planting money in this time period.  $7,500 is being allotted to CTC this year from Plant-It 2000 .  $1,500 will go to the Windsor Tree Board for the Arbor Day Calendar Project, $2,000 to the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado Points of Shade Project in Englewood, $2,000 for the Greenspring’s Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful Project, and $2,000 for the Town of Empire’s Highway 40 Improvement Project.  All  projects were rated as part of the 2001 grant review process and were deemed excellent candidates to receive CTC and Plant-It 2000 support. 

  Anyone who would like to be involved with any of the above listed projects is encouraged to attend.  CTC extends its sincere gratitude to Plant-It 2000 for cooperation on these projects and hopes to continue the mutually beneficial partnership for years to come.

CTC grant funding has been a 'life-line' for trees in arid Southeast Colorado. The Las Animas Tree Board is extremely appreciative for the support of the 'Colorado Tree Coalition' for helping 'create' and re-forest our area through community projects. These tree projects have enhanced and beautified Las Animas' landscape. It has also encouraged the city, county, businesses, citizens, and students to get involved in tree planting and tree care.

Through CTC funding and matches we have been able to plan and support numerous tree plantings, tree pruning, and education projects. This year we are planning to correct hazard trees with a maintenance, pruning and recycling project.

Las Animas celebrated its 10th Arbor Day and Tree City USA award on April 12, 2001. Ten years ago, Donna Davis, Colorado State Forester, offered the Master Forester Program, and encouraged communities like Las Animas to form
a Tree Board. The GLAD 4-H Club put together a proposal and made a video "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Trees". This video was presented to the City Council and with this initiative Council established the Tree Board.  Some of those students have become active on the Tree Board. Davis coached the new Tree Board in planting projects, grant writing, Tree City USA applications, community and school education programs, including poster contests, 5th Grade Tree Pruning clinics, Puppet shows, and tree/seedling giveaways. She also created and provided a CTC 'Tree Trunk Box' that travels to local classrooms and libraries. These projects make learning fun for all ages and have encouraged family involvement in Arbor Day activities.

Often one travels to a conference with many questions in mind.  The one most memorable question going into this conference titled “Harvesting the Benefits of Carbon:  The potential for carbon sequestration”, was “what is this conference really going to be about?”  The answer I found was in the sole word “potential”.

  Although the issues seem to be more important than the facts pertaining to this particular conference, I will briefly explain some technical information.  Carbon sequestration can be defined as the conversion of carbon from the atmosphere to other stable sources.  Carbon can be sequestered by living vegetation and then stored in biomass and/or soil.  The longer carbon is stored the more “valuable” the method of sequestration.  Trees, as many of us know, can sequester and potentially store carbon for a long period of time.  Meanwhile, the release of carbon into the atmosphere is substantially increased by human activities such as land use change, agriculture, ranching, vehicular use, etc.  Carbon is just one of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

  This is the place where carbon credits come into play.  The idea behind carbon credits is that industries, business and other carbon emitters can receive credit by paying others to sequester and store carbon for specified periods of time.  The money paid by carbon emitters can potentially support practices that will contribute to ecosystem health in more ways than just carbon storage (i.e. sustainable ranching and agricultural practices, reduced soil erosion, increased soil and water quality, increased wildlife habitat, etc.).

  Global warming is an international issue.  “The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” was the conference where the international community first met to discuss this issue. There 128 nations agreed and then ratified that they would reduce carbon emissions to at least 5% below 1990 levels.  Although according to this agreements industrialized nations were supposed to begin reducing their levels, none of them really started the process.  Under the Kyoto Protocol, it was decided that the Nations need a legally binding agreement.  Eighty-four Nations agreed to this protocol and it has been ratified by 33 nations as of March 19, 2001.  In order to enter into force the Kyoto Protocol needs ratification of 55 nations, plus 55% of those nations have to be the industrialized nations who are most restricted by the protocol, labeled Annex I nations. Of the 33 nations to ratify the protocol none are Annex I.   Apparently, when the United States agreed to this they were under the impression that carbon sinks, carbon sequestration and carbon credits could be used to help them attain their goals.  As of now, the United States will potentially be able to use carbon credits.

  As people living in urban areas and/or people in the urban forestry profession, we understand the benefits of the urban forest, which are way beyond simple carbon sequestration and storage.  Because of this understanding we see the potential for funding the urban forest in the carbon market.  Trees in urban areas will not only sequester and store carbon, but they can potentially reduce carbon emissions depending on placement, by reducing energy use and vehicular emissions.  Furthermore, they contribute to better water quality, provide wildlife habitat, renewable wood products, aesthetic buffers, increase business revenues, and contribute to an overall better quality of life.  With all of these benefits the urban forest should be easily marketable to carbon emitters wanting to improve their social standing. On the contrary, at this conference it was announced that, at this time, the urban forest and all of its potential is not marketable in the carbon credit game.  It seems as if buyers for carbon credits are not yet impressed with the urban forest as an investment.  Furthermore, when an urban forest was used as a sample carbon credit possibility, it was supposedly determined that urban forests are not cost effective due to the low number of trees per acre. 

  This may seem like bad news, but do not fret tree lovers and urban forestry professionals.  We have reason to believe the market strategies are imperfect and one small sample can not determine the future for urban forestry in the carbon market.  Some of us also believe we can prove that urban forestry is cost effective and a marketable carbon credit program.  The potential of the urban forest in the carbon credit market will not go unnoticed; however, you will have to wait to hear about that in a future CTC newsletter.        

by J. Todd Vess, Windsor Beacon

(Editor Note: This article is being reprinted with the permission of the J. Todd Vess and the Windsor Beacon)

Skyview fifth grader Mallory Duran was surprised to find out that she is the state winner of a poster contest that she almost didn’t enter.

Duran, along with dozens of Windsor students, entered the National Arbor Day poster contest.

“This is really cool,” she said. “I worked on it a lot, it took a week.”

  Duran said that her persistence paid off, though.

  “I wasn’t going to enter at first, but everybody said it was good; even the best artist in the class.”

Duran was presented the award by Ralph Campbell of the Colorado Tree Coalition. Duran and her family will receive an all-expense paid trip to Gunnison for the state coalition convention.