Sunkist Growers’ Post

Why do we burn some forests on purpose? It’s often thought that the denser the forest the healthier it is, but that’s not always true! And when it comes to longleaf pine trees, they need fire to thrive. Fire was a regular part of these forests for millennia, first by lightning strikes and later by Indigenous communities. When practices changed with European settlers, the longleaf system and the supported biodiversity began to shrink.     By reintroducing prescribed burns, we help to rid the area of invasive plants, open the canopy to allow native plants to flourish on the forest floor, and enable native animals to thrive who are adapted to this landscape. In addition, post-fire growth captures a lot of CO2.     In this video, the Jones Center shares more about prescribed burning in Georgia, a central area of the longleaf system that runs from Virginia to Texas, and the carbon capture benefits of the practice.  https://nature.ly/3UKTL68 

Today is International Biodiversity Day, a day designated by the United Nations to remind us of the vast and diverse life forms around us, both visible and invisible, that are critical for our survival. The theme of International Biodiversity Day 2024 is “Be Part of the Plan,” highlighting the role each of us can play in preserving biodiversity. As we all experience the impacts of climate change, there are tangible actions we can take to mitigate it. Whether it’s reducing plastic use, becoming more aware of the interconnectedness of life forms, or planting trees, everyone has a part to play in this global effort. In recognition of International Biodiversity Day, I had the privilege of speaking to the Rotary E-Club of South Africa One on the topic “The Story of Soil,” which underscores soil's foundational role in sustaining life. According to the UNCCD, up to 40% of the world's land is already degraded, affecting nearly half of humanity. This degradation is driven by deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable land use practices. How does this impact us? It leads to a decline in the nutritional value of our food and, with a growing global population, threatens future food security. What can we do about soil degradation? We can make conscious choices about our diet, minimize food waste, and support retailers and suppliers who practice sustainable farming. By doing so, we encourage environmentally responsible food production, ultimately enhancing the nutritional content and sustainability of our food sources. Action now: savesoil.org/action-now #biodiversityday #biodiversity #savesoil #consciousplanet #soilforclimateaction Conscious Planet Rotary International Rotary Club

Oceans are critical to life but have never been so vulnerable. In her new book, marine biologist Helen Scales outlines how to halt the decline. #ocean #oceanlife #sea #sealife #preservation #marinebiology #marinebiologist #rewilding #conservation

Environment can be defined as a sum total of all the living and non-living elements and their effects that influence human life. While all living or biotic elements are animals, plants, forests, fisheries, and birds, non-living or abiotic elements include water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air. Environment functions Provides the supply of resource It sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity. The environment enhances the quality of life. Human beings enjoy the beauty of nature that includes rivers, mountains, deserts, etc. Also add to the quality of life.

How can cutting down healthy trees into rivers be nature restoration? We explain why this makes sense in our new video tackling river restoration with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust on the River Chew. In their ‘natural’ state, rivers are dynamic and not afraid to get a little messy. Sadly, many UK rivers have undergone huge alterations over the years, which has impeded or totally removed natural processes and all the wonderful dynamism that comes with it. With this in mind, we’ve been working with BART to reinstate natural river dynamics on the River Chew. There numerous opportunities to improve this particular river, but for now we’re starting by injecting more woody debris back into the system. See the three different methods we’re using and learn how they will create new habitats, being the catalyst for greater river biodiversity! Thanks for watching! https://lnkd.in/d2qG9AwP

Proper disposal of garden waste is an important way to reduce the spread of invasive species. If invasive plants or plant parts are present in garden waste that is disposed of in natural areas, they can establish a foothold and spread. From there, they can outcompete native plants for resources and have devastating impacts on the local ecosystem. Learn how to reduce the spread of invasive species by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Una0V8

Our new paper "Mixed success for carbon payments and subsidies in support of forest restoration in the neotropics" has a companion article in The Conversation, check it out: https://lnkd.in/gWqBrEX4

Everyday multiple generations of humans work toward creating a better tomorrow not only for each other but for the other living organisms on this planet. Today Things are Blooming has made strides to creating a better tomorrow. With this wildflower patch the monarch butterfly has another place to flourish. The monarch butterfly is a symbol of hope, rebirth and transformation. Now with with wildflower patch we get closer to transforming this world. #hope #wildflowers

Can excessive trees🌳 become a problem? Absolutely! So one significant challenge we are facing along tropical areas is the potential loss of the Savannah due to excessive tree growth. 🌳 With increased atmospheric CO2, shrubs and bushes have started emerging in numbers and encroaching our grasslands, a process known as 'bush encroachment.' 🌿 This threatens the unique balance of grass and trees which makes the Savannah a very ecologically rich and diverse forest lanscape. Allowing these shrubs to overtake could lead to the extinction of the Savannah. Our forests will become a thicket. Do you know what that means? grass-dependent animals will die. Equally, the biodiversity that is dependent on Savannah fires🔥 will die since there will be no grass. Its wisdom to know what to plant and where to plant it. Otherwise #savethesavannah

To offset this massive volume of emissions, each person in the country would need to plant about 150-200 trees (depending on the species) every year