ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay How to Plant 20 MILLION TREES – Smarter Every Day 227 #TeamTrees
Hey there! I’m Destin, and welcome back to Smarter Every Day. There’s something amazing happening online right now, and we want you to join in. It’s called Team Trees, and the goal is simple: plant 20 million trees by 2020. Here’s how it works: for every dollar donated to teamtrees.org, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant one tree. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and creators from all over are teaming up to make it happen. But we need your help!
Imagine if we all pitched in and raised $20 million. That would mean 20 million trees planted by the Arbor Day Foundation! To understand how we can achieve this, I thought about my grandfather, who tried planting hundreds of trees back in the 60s. My dad was there and remembers it well.
In the early 60s, my dad and some students from Auburn University planted longleaf pines on my grandfather’s land. They tried different methods, but only two trees survived. Why? Because they were testing if longleaf pines could grow in an area just north of their natural habitat.
Whenever I travel, I love learning about different tree species and where they thrive, like the strangler fig in Peru or the baobab tree in Africa. To understand why certain trees grow better in specific places, I visited Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. There, I met Dr. Becky Barlow and Dr. John Kush, experts in sustainable forestry.
They explained that choosing the right tree involves understanding the soil type and how much care you’re willing to give. Some people plant a tree and leave it alone, but usually, you need to check on them and maybe thin them out so they have enough resources to grow.
Dr. Kush taught me that knowing a tree’s life history is crucial. This includes where it naturally grows, how it develops, and how much sunlight it needs. He showed me a soil survey of my grandfather’s land and explained that different soils affect tree growth. My grandfather’s trees likely died because they were planted in a grassy area where weeds overtook them.
For longleaf pines, Dr. Kush highlighted the importance of using controlled fire. Fire helps clear undergrowth and supports the trees’ health. Longleaf pines are unique because they can survive fires in their early years.
We went outside to see some longleaf pines. Dr. Kush showed me one in the “grass stage,” where it develops a deep taproot, making it resistant to drought. We compared it to a loblolly pine, which had died from drought, while the longleaf pine was thriving.
Dr. Kush and Dr. Barlow explained that my grandfather’s trees might have died due to a lack of fire. Later, while driving through northern Florida, I noticed healthy trees with burned trunks and unhealthy, crowded ones. I visited the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, which focuses on longleaf pines and controlled burning.
I met Ashlyn, who taught me that fire is essential for the longleaf pine ecosystem. It creates the right conditions for gopher tortoises, which dig burrows that support many other species. Ashlyn showed me young longleaf pines and explained their growth stages.
As we explored, I learned that longleaf pines’ ability to survive fire helps clear underbrush, allowing gopher tortoises to thrive and creating a diverse ecosystem that supports larger animals like black bears.
If you’re thinking about planting a tree, consider a longleaf pine if your area can support it. It’s important to think about the whole ecosystem, not just the tree itself.
The goal of Team Trees is to raise $20 million for 20 million trees by 2020, and we need your help. Visit teamtrees.org to donate. Your contributions can make a big difference for the environment.
This episode of Smarter Every Day is sponsored by Hello Fresh, which is also supporting Team Trees. If you want to try Hello Fresh, you can get a discount with the promo code provided.
Please consider joining Team Trees and check out the other creators involved in this movement. Together, we can make a difference. I’m Destin, and I hope you have a great day!
Choose a tree species that interests you and research its natural habitat, growth conditions, and ecological importance. Create a short presentation to share with the class, highlighting why this tree is important and how it contributes to its ecosystem.
Conduct a soil testing experiment to understand how different soil types affect plant growth. Collect soil samples from various locations and plant seeds in each type. Observe and record the growth over a few weeks, then discuss which soil types were most conducive to growth and why.
Participate in a tree planting simulation game where you must choose the right tree species for different environments. Consider factors like soil type, climate, and ecosystem needs. Discuss your choices with classmates and reflect on what you learned about sustainable forestry practices.
Engage in a role-play activity to understand the role of fire in ecosystems like the longleaf pine forests. Take on roles such as a forest manager, a wildlife biologist, or a local resident. Discuss the benefits and challenges of using controlled burns to maintain healthy ecosystems.
Organize a school fundraiser to support the Team Trees initiative. Plan activities to raise awareness about the importance of trees and how students can contribute to environmental conservation. Share your progress and encourage others to participate in the movement.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, it’s me, Destin. Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. There’s a really cool initiative happening on the internet right now, and we want you to be a part of it. It’s called Team Trees, and the goal is simple: 20 million trees by 2020. We actually have a mechanism to do this. If you go to teamtrees.org, the Arbor Day Foundation has agreed to plant one tree for every dollar donated. That is a huge opportunity, and content creators from all over are working together to make this happen, but we need your help.
Let’s say we’re all on board and we make this happen. $20 million goes to the Arbor Day Foundation, and they’re going to plant 20 million trees. To understand how we can achieve this scientifically, I want to look at this concept through the eyes of my grandfather, who attempted to plant hundreds of trees back in the 60s. My dad was there and remembers exactly what happened.
In the early 60s, my dad had a group of students from Auburn come and plant some longleaf pines. They planted them in different methods, and only two of them survived.
Why did Auburn University come here to plant trees in this field? It’s not native to this area, and they wanted to see if longleaf pines could survive this far north. The fact that longleaf pines were planted here is interesting because my grandfather’s land was just north of the natural range for that species.
Whenever I travel, I love to discover what tree species thrive in different environments, whether it be a strangler fig in Peru or a baobab tree in western Africa. Certain species of trees always seem to thrive in specific areas. To learn more about why certain trees thrive in certain environments, I went to Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, where I met with Dr. Becky Barlow and Dr. John Kush, both experts in sustainable forestry.
I asked them how a person can find the right tree for the right location. They explained that the first thing to consider is the soil type and how actively one is willing to manage their property. Some people just want to plant a tree and walk away, and that’s okay too, but most of the time, you’ll need to monitor and possibly thin the trees to ensure they have enough resources to grow.
Dr. Kush explained that understanding the life history of the tree you want to plant is crucial. This includes knowing where it naturally occurs, how it grows, and its sunlight requirements. He pulled up a soil survey from my grandfather’s land and explained that the different soil types affect how trees grow. He mentioned that my grandfather’s trees likely died due to being planted in a grassy area where weeds choked them out.
When it comes to longleaf pines, Dr. Kush emphasized the importance of using prescribed fire. This helps clear the undergrowth and promotes the health of the trees. He explained that longleaf pines have adapted to survive fire during their early years, which is unique among tree species.
We went outside to see actual longleaf pines, and Dr. Kush showed me one that was in the grass stage. He explained that this stage allows the tree to develop a deep taproot, making it drought-resistant. We compared a loblolly pine and a longleaf pine, noting that the loblolly pine had died due to drought while the longleaf pine was thriving.
Dr. Kush and Dr. Barlow taught me that one reason my grandfather’s trees might have died was due to a lack of fire. Later, while driving across northern Florida, I noticed a stark difference between healthy trees with burned trunks and crowded, unhealthy trees. I discovered the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, which focuses on longleaf pines and controlled burning to promote their health.
I met with Ashlyn and learned that fire is essential for the longleaf pine ecosystem. It creates the right conditions for gopher tortoises, which dig burrows that support many other species. Ashlyn took me into the forest to see young longleaf pines and explained the different growth stages they go through.
As we explored, I learned that the ability of longleaf pines to survive fire helps clear the underbrush, allowing gopher tortoises to thrive and creating a diverse ecosystem that supports larger species like black bears.
If you’re considering planting a tree, I recommend planting a longleaf pine if you’re in an area that can support it. It’s important to think about the entire ecosystem, not just the individual tree.
The goal of Team Trees is to raise $20 million for 20 million trees by 2020, and we need your help. I encourage you to visit teamtrees.org to donate. Your contributions can make a significant impact on the environment.
This episode of Smarter Every Day is sponsored by Hello Fresh, which is also contributing to Team Trees. If you want to try Hello Fresh, you can get a discount by using the promo code provided.
Please consider joining Team Trees and check out the other creators involved in this movement. Together, we can make a difference. I’m Destin, and I hope you have a great day!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains the essence of the original transcript.
Trees – Large plants with a trunk, branches, and leaves that provide oxygen and habitat for many organisms. – Trees are essential for maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. – The rainforest ecosystem is home to a diverse range of plants and animals.
Fire – A natural event that can clear dead material from forests but can also destroy habitats if uncontrolled. – Controlled fire can help manage forest ecosystems by reducing the risk of larger wildfires.
Soil – The top layer of the earth where plants grow, composed of organic matter, minerals, and living organisms. – Healthy soil is crucial for plant growth and supports a variety of life forms.
Species – A group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. – The endangered species list includes animals that are at risk of extinction.
Growth – The process of increasing in size, number, or importance, often seen in living organisms and ecosystems. – The growth of algae in the pond is a sign of nutrient pollution.
Habitat – The natural environment where an organism lives and thrives. – The wetland habitat provides a home for many amphibians and birds.
Pines – A type of coniferous tree known for its needle-like leaves and cones, often found in forests. – Pines are adapted to survive in environments with poor soil and cold temperatures.
Wildlife – Animals and plants that live and grow in natural conditions without human intervention. – Protecting wildlife is important for maintaining biodiversity in ecosystems.
Donation – A gift or contribution, often of money or resources, to support a cause or organization. – The donation to the conservation fund helped protect endangered species in the area.
