Author : James Nash

Something that worries many people about offsetting emissions with trees is how can you guarantee that they will last long enough? Trees take time to absorb carbon, extracting it slowly from the atmosphere as they grow But saplings are vulnerable to bad weather, neglect and damage by animals Older woodlands and forests face the risk of fire, pests and disease, which could release the carbon back into the atmosphere And how can we be sure even if a forest is protected now, it won’t be logged or cleared at some point in the future?

Because some offset schemes have been poorly run, with saplings dying or other problems, many people have concluded that it is impossible to guarantee the permanence of trees But failed schemes shouldn’t blind us to the fact that humans have been successfully growing trees and managing woodlands and forest for thousands of years However, climate change is too grave and urgent a problem for us to afford to waste time and resources on efforts that will fail to deliver Nor should we forget that forestry-based schemes tend to be remote, and most purchasers of offsets will never see the trees they are funding nor the carbon they are saving, so there is a vital issue of trust and credibility

What we need is a realistic assessment of the risks, and reliable ways to ensure permanence

But first we should note that permanence is not an issue unique to forestry-based offsets Wind turbines or hydro power generation facilities can break down Villagers can reject more efficient stoves brought in through an offset project and return to traditional carbon-intensive ways of cooking, and so on There are risks with all forms of offsetting (Although one unique aspect of forests is that they can regenerate of their own accord, and recapture lost carbon )

And while we need to take the risks seriously, we also must not exaggerate them The risk of fire, for example, varies enormously with where the project is based, the types of trees used, forest management procedures, etc In the Pacific Coast forests of the northern US and Canada, the average frequency of fires is in the order of hundreds or thousands of years Meanwhile, the Scandinavians and others have devised effective fire control regimes Many of the risks of tree planting schemes can be minimised at the design stage by planting in low fire risk areas, by using disease-resistant species, and taking steps to minimise pests, etc Schemes based on preventing deforestation should include steps to reduce the possibility of these threats especially where humans are active near forests

But, no matter what we do, there will always remain an element of risk Forest ecologists, in fact, regularly quantify the frequency and severity of damage from fire, pests and disease for different forest types Companies growing trees for commercial purposes, and public organisations protecting and managing natural forests and woodlands, regularly use this information in their planning We can also use this information to estimate how much of a forest or plantation might be lost over a given period of time, and discount it when calculating a carbon offset

There are a number of other techniques we can use to mitigate the risk of trees being destroyed, or to compensate for the risk Insurance is an obvious one There are already specialised insurance products for commercial forestry and these could possibly be adapted for carbon offsetting Liability agreements are another, where the buyer and seller make a legally binding agreement to replace any carbon credits lost through fire, disease, etc

Another approach would be to pool the carbon credits from a number of schemes, and hold a certain portion back in reserve should there be damage to one of the projects This a bit like banks having to hold a certain amount of capital in reserve to cover their market and credit risks

Other steps can be taken to reduce specific risks For instance, if there is a danger that local people could damage a forest in a quest for firewood, they could be provided with other sources of fuel, or more efficient cooking stoves, or part of the forest could be set aside for producing firewood sustainably

Humans are good at managing risks It is one of the factors that makes us such a successful species There is much that we already know about managing risks in general –and those of forestry in particular– that we can bring to bear in operating carbon offset schemes If we factor the risk of impermanence into our calculations, we not only make our offset schemes more robust, we make them more credible as well

James Nash is a climate scientist with Greatest Planet (www.greatestplanet.org). Greatest Planet is a non-profit environmental organization specialising in carbon offset investments.

James Nash is solely responsible for the contents of this article.

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Author : Lee Dobbins

Adding interest to your garden with a garden pond or water garden is a great idea, and one of the first things you should look at is a top-notch water garden filter system that can do the hard work for you

Highly chlorinated water kills the microorganisms that are found it in the soil The unfortunate part about the previous statement is that those microorganisms are there for a reason It is their task to protect the plant and the source where it gets its food

This is the very reason why home gardeners steer clear of chlorinated water They prefer a healthier choice – cleaner water By getting a filter system for their garden water, 85% of the chlorine from hose water is removed

The water from garden filter systems are also beneficial for bathing dogs Children can also have fun with the sprinkler In fact, it can also be used to wash cars

Water garden filter systems are necessities for gardening You have nothing to worry about because they are completely non-toxic Why would we suggest that this be the same water you used to your pets, children and car, if it were?

Now, let us say that you have a man-made pond in your garden This filter system can also clean the water there Not only will it do that, it will also protect the soil ecosystem in your pond

Imagine the beneficial insects you could have killed if you thoroughly cleaned your man-made pond using chlorinated water At least, with a filter system, the 20,000 to 40,000 gallons of water are 100% clean

Just like any electronic appliance, water garden filter systems can be recharged The filters can also be replaced in due time – when it has acquired all dirt from the pond and needs to be changed

Choose a filter system that comes with the hose protector In that way, maintaining it will be a whole lot easier There are systems that already include a pre-filtered hose This is to control the flow of the water better

Most home gardeners ask why they should remain chlorine in their garden Obviously, you would want to keep the beneficial insects in the natural ecosystem Chlorine kills living organisms like bacteria and fungi but at the same time, it also contaminates the water source Chlorine is harmful to your plants primarily because they depend on these organisms to stay alive

Plants survive because they receive the nutrients they need from the soil and water A healthy soil is composed of molds, fungi and bacteria (which chlorine is designated to kill ) Gardeners and farmers know that in order to protect their plants and the ecosystem from the pesky pests, diseases and insects is by using beneficial bacteria

By using chlorinated water, the microorganisms that were placed in the soil to protect the plant and the plants food source in the first place will also be killed Thus, horticulturists and farmers do not use chlorinated water when they irrigate their crops

Thanks to the water garden filter system, water is dechlorinated This is a better and healthier option because water garden filter systems clean the garden and save the beneficial bacteria through out the process

Water garden filter systems turns chlorine into chloride that is completely harmless This redox procedure is their basic principle on how they can assure their consumers that the water coming out of the system is totally chlorine-free

So after watering your garden with the chlorine-free filter system, throw in a bath for our dogs In fact their coats can become softer and finer from the brittle and dryness it had been due to sun and chlorine exposure

You can also let your children have fun all summer long with the garden hose feature attached to your water garden filter system They can even swim in a pool that you filled using the filter system If you are an automobile fiend and the usual wax is not enough to give your “baby” the sparkle and shine it deserves, switch to dechlorinated water that you can obtain from the water garden filter systems

From the original purpose of providing chlorine-free water to your garden, water from filter systems has escalated to new heights

Lee Dobbins writes for http://watergardens.garden-g8way.com where you can learn more about water gardens and accessories like the water garden filter.

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Author : Beth Olignerf

As gas prices go up and then back down, no one ever knows where they are going to be going next Oil is a precious resource, and although it sometimes feel like it is going always be there, if we continue to over use this resource, the demand will go up while the quantity goes down The best way to ensure we continue to have gasoline is to work to conserve it whenever possible Massachusetts’ officials have tips on how to save on gas

The first way is simply to bike instead of driving around all the time Biking has many benefits First of all, since you are not using gasoline, you are not spending money on that Second, since bikes don’t use gasoline, you are helping the environment by not contributing to greenhouse emission A third reason to ride a bike is to get exercise With many people working jobs that keep them pretty stationary, their only exercise for the day might come from the exercise they get biking to and from work Biking helps people to lose weight and stay healthy

Carpooling is another great resource that cuts down on greenhouse emissions and on gasoline usage Massachusetts residents are encouraged to find people with whom they can form a carpool to get to work and/or school They even have a web site and a phone number where you can connect with people who work and live near you This will help people to form carpools since about three out of four of Massachusetts’ commuters drive alone MassRIDES is a great resource which can save time, money, and gasoline The less people on the road, the less greenhouse gases we have to worry about, and the faster people can get to and from their destinations

Another resource provided by the state of Massachusetts is their Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Massachusetts’ public transportation includes subway, bus, train, or boat transportation On the website, patrons can plan their trip schedule ahead of time They can also sign-up to get alerts of service delays and interruptions in the schedule To combine some fuel-saving resources, people can even ride their bikes to subway station or the local bus station and ride public transportation from there

Another way Massachusetts residents can save money is by vacationing closer to home This might sound simple, but often areas close to home provide an enjoyable time that residents have never enjoyed before Often people think that getting away from home is where they are going to have fun, but enjoying what Massachusetts has to offer will save people gas and will help the local economy

Of course, there are other ways that you can drive just as much as you currently do now and still save money on gas An important resource you can use is a tire pressure gauge Make sure your tires are properly inflated If they are not, get them that way Tires that are under inflated will not give you as good of gas mileage, and they can cause a safety hazard Removing excess weight from your car is another way to save on gas mileage The golf clubs you used last weekend can now go in the house instead of traveling back and forth to work with you It can save you a few cents a gallon on gasoline just by eliminating that added weight from your car A final way people can save money on gasoline is by using cruise control on cars that have it

Beth Olignerf is an article writer for Boston Massachusetts Water Damage Restoration and Boston Massachusetts Flood Damage Cleanup

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Author : Stephanie Quinn

You can use your shed for more than just storage when by wiring a shed for electricity The addition of electricity takes your shed from junk storage to home office, craft room, woodworking workshop, and much more Keep the following tips in mind when planning to wire your shed for electricity

Wiring For Electricity

It is possible to add electricity to a shed already built, but wiring a shed is easier during the construction process Consider wiring for electricity when building a shed, even if you don’t need it immediately since it is more cost effect to add it during construction instead of waiting until later

Plan Your Outlets

Plan the location of your electrical outlets before wiring a shed by deciding on the most convenient places to plug in equipment, tools, and other items Keep the location of your workbench and the traffic flow of your shed in mind when making your plan for locating outlets

Light Switch Locations

The most convenient place for an interior light switch is just inside your entry door This keeps you from maneuvering inside your dark storage shed looking for the light switch If you plan to install an exterior light, install the switch to operate it in the same switch plate as your interior light switch when wiring a shed

Light Fixtures

When choosing light fixtures, keep the height of your ceiling in mind Make sure your interior light fixture does not hang down too low or get in the way when maneuvering through your shed

Phone And Internet Connections

Since wiring a shed is convenient during the construction process, consider adding a phone and Internet connection, even if you don’t immediately need it You never know when your storage shed may turn into the perfect home office If the wiring is in place, transforming your shed will be simple

Temporary Electricity

If you think you’ll only require electricity on a temporary basis and don’t want to go through the process of wiring a shed, consider simply plugging a durable, heavy-duty extension cord into an outlet in your home and stretching it out temporarily to your shed

Non-Electrical Lighting

If you decide against wiring a shed, but still need lighting, consider the following non-electrical sources of lighting

Sunlight – The natural alternative to wiring a shed is optimizing the amount of sunlight available by installing large windows in your storage shed

Skylights – Another great way benefit from sunlight is to install skylights, placing them where you can maximize the amount of light where most needed

Solar Lights – Powered by sunlight, a solar panel, and a battery, solar lights are not just for exterior lighting You may have enough sunlight coming through the windows of your storage shed to power solar lighting Another alternative is solar lamps that charge outside, but are portable so you can bring them inside your shed when you require light

Battery Powered Lighting – Flashlights and lanterns powered by batteries can provide just the light you need inside of your storage shed Just make sure you keep your light near the doorway of your shed so it is easily accessible and keep plenty of batteries on hand

Crank Lighting – Crank flashlights and lanterns can also provide you with the electricity you need at the turn of a crank

Stephanie Quinn is an author for Build A Shed Plans. If you want more tips for wiring a shed, check out the free resources and learn about storage sheds, backyard sheds, tool sheds, and more.

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Author : Bercle George

First things first, many gardeners strain to circumvent fall gardening as much as they can as a result of the winter frosts which ordinarily come forth quite early and have the ability to make things a little difficult Reading all you can on fall gardening in addition to other gardening info will clearly prove beneficial to you in addressing any troubles that may possibly spring up

Everyone yearns for a really awesome looking garden A really awesome looking garden will truly require more than just committing loads of money It truly will require fixings as well as concern to make it have the demanded shape On the other hand, what is price when compared to accomplishing the exact form of garden you crave for? How much do you truly know regarding the process of fertilization as a gardener? If you truly do not know much, then pay close attention Each gardener should

It is not good enough to get just about any form of gardening glove as a gardener Various men and women believe so, and are dreadfully frustrated when they know how erroneous they are You see, the gardening glove must tally with you perfectly for the reason that an oversized one will truly fall off whereas an undersized one will truly result in hurts and cramps Don’t fail to remember this when shopping for your gardening glove Studying gardening magazines has numerous rewards Gardening magazines give gardeners the chance to share their opinions and expertise with other readers by submitting their own pieces of writing to be published You can easily have your such writings published also–if you have them

What you desire to eat in addition to handy room which you have for fall gardening are the determining factors behind the crops you will need to grow; it is truly not unusual from spring planting Embellishing your garden will truly make it a lot more fine looking and exclusive; it is a tactful way of giving it a unique touch, a sort of mark which identifies it as your own unique work

Insects ordinarily put their concentration on unhealthy plants so gardeners have got to work on developing healthy plants which can get over slight insect damage Your commitment to learn all you can regarding back ache and even the many cures can be fulfilled on the Net where you can access several web pages which grant elaborate and even comprehensive information regarding it

In rounding up, if you truly want to commence organic gardening but you are fearful of weeds, it is feasible to prevent weeds from exasperating you into dispensing with organic gardening by employing the use of organic mulch and corn meal gluten which decreases weed increment when put early enough

For more information, visit http://www.gardeningtips101./

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