I’ll tell you all about the tree that could help save our planet and why we use this wood with our Stand With Nature wood planters.
Greenhouse gases and harm to our environment
Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer. And us humans are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years.
It’s pretty well documented that the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.
Sure we all know that cutting back on greenhouse emissions will help solve climate change.
But let’s be honest. Getting the United States, Europe, Japan and China to cut back on greenhouse emissions is a fools errand. It’s sort of like tilting at windmills. Except that you’ll have more success with windmills.
There is no way that you’re going to convince the electric companies, transportation companies, factories, chemical companies, industrial plants from “cutting back” on green house emissions.
Here, or anywhere else. Including and especially China.
We’re environmentalists, but we suggest you wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak.
Seriously.
Not to suggest that we don’t advocate cutting back on greenhouse emissions. Because we do. But, let’s be honest about what we can do right now. Today. That doesn’t involve windmills and such.
Reforestation is the best answer today to fight climate change
Reforestation has consistently ranked as a #1 climate change solution, because trees are capable of absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
As trees grow, they help stop climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that U.S. forests absorb between one million and three million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, offsetting between 20 percent and 46 percent of the country's greenhouse-gas emissions.
Not to sound like Billy Shears on you, but... wait, there’s more. Tree leaves also absorb airborne pollutants and intercept particulate matter, helping reduce the throat irritation, asthma, and even premature death that these pollutants may cause.
And wait, there’s even more.... Healthy forests give wildlife a home, provide food and sustainable income for communities, support the water cycle, hold soil together, clean the air, provide medicines, and so much more.
Okay - how to reverse climate change with a wood planter
I know it took awhile, but I was getting to this....
This is why Stand With Nature supports using sustainable paulownia wood for our furniture. And we encourage planting trees in order to reverse climate change.
But this doesn’t tell the whole story.
Fact is, paulownia trees are the fastest growing trees on Earth. When planted from seed, after 8 years they are the size of a 40 year old oak tree. They can grow 15 feet in one year.
The leaves of a paulownia tree are HUGE. Which is why they absorb 10 times more carbon dioxide than any other tree!
And here’s the best part and why paulownia trees are the most sustainable timber.
When you cut the tree to use the wood for timber, the stump grows back super fast. You can have usable timber again in 5 years.
And, during these 5 years - paulownia trees are absorbing massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.
Yes, this is why paulownia trees are called the trees that could save the planet!!!
This is why you should support and but paulownia furniture. Because it’s not only super sustainable, but you’re also supporting a timber industry that is helping to save our planet.
This is why Stand With Nature uses paulownia wood for our wood planters!