Scoutrees

Help Scouts Plant Trees!

Each spring since 1972, thousands of Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturer Scouts and Rover Scouts – who are part of Scouts Canada, have planted trees through the Scoutrees Program.  Scoutrees gives all members the opportunity to demonstrate, through action, their concern for the environment. By planting trees, youth learn about the important role trees have in our lives, the critical need for conservation, the huge impact of climate change and how we can do our part to create a better world.

This coming spring, 16,000 Scouting members will plant another 200,000 trees bringing the total number of trees planted since 1972 to over 80 million. Few non-government agencies can boast this kind of record.

Scouting members plant trees in conservation areas, provincial parks, on crown-lands, and at Scout Camps. Through Scoutrees the youth learn the important role trees play in helping the environment. Trees are planted as windbreaks to help reduce soil erosion from wind and rain, they provide wildlife habitat for birds and other animals, and also beautify our parks and provide shade during warm summer days.

Trees are important because they absorb (sequester) carbon dioxide (CO2)

Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and trap other air pollutants like dust, smog, and smoke, resulting in cleaner air and less adverse health effects.

Greenhouse gases are causing climate change, but trees help to stop it

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases like nitrogen oxide, smog-forming ozone, and also sulphur dioxide, the biggest cause of acid rain. Scientists consider CO2 to be the major cause of global warming.

Carbon emissions can be offset by purchasing credits from businesses and organizations that take part in programs to reduce or absorb (sequester) carbon

One carbon credit costs about $25 in North America, and offsets one tonne of carbon. Planting trees is a low-cost way of sequestering greenhouse gases. The amount of CO2 a tree offsets depends on many factors, such as the type of tree, where it’s planted, and the amount of room it has to grow. On average, a broad-leaf tree will sequester about one tonne of CO2 over its 100 year lifespan. But because we can’t be certain that the tree will be around for 100 years, and because offsetting CO2 earlier is better than offsetting it later, we have to plant more than that to make up for the uncertainty.

You are helping the next generation of Canadians to plant the next generation of trees

Not only are you supporting an excellent program that helps teach youth a respect for nature and the importance of stopping climate change, your donation will plant trees to help offset carbon. Because Scouts Canada is a volunteer based organization and all planting is done as a part of the Scoutrees program, your donation goes directly to the purchase of trees and we take care of the rest!

Examples of how you can reduce your carbon footprint by donating to help Scouts plant trees:

1. The average Canadian produces 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per year to heat their home. Donate $25 and 12 Scoutrees will be planted to offset your carbon footprint from home heating.
2. The average Canadian drives 16,000 km per year, producing about 5 tonnes of CO2. Donate $50 and 25 Scoutrees will be planted to offset your carbon footprint from driving.
3. The average Canadian family consumes 1 tonne of paper products per year (newsprint, magazines, toilet paper, tissues, etc). Donate $100 and 50 Scoutrees will be planted to more than offset your carbon foot print from the use of paper, driving and home heating in one year.

To learn more about the carbon credits and climate change visit:

• Environment Canada
• The Climate Reality Project

Special thanks to Jeff Beyer at the Delphi Group.

Sources:

• $25 per tonne of carbon offset:Point Carbon. CO2 prices. Retrieved on August 27, 2009.

• 1 tree offsets 1 tonne over 100 years: Carbon Footprint. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.

• Home heating calculation: Bathurst Sustainable Development. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.

• Average distance traveled is 16,000 km/year: Transport Canada. Transport in Canada, 2005. Retrieved on August 27, 2009.

• 16,000 km of driving produces about 5 tonnes of CO2 US Environmental Protection Agency. Carbon Calculator. Retrieved on August 27, 2009.