Natural Environment Blog

Here are some facts regarding the earth’s forests:

• One and a half acres of rainforest is lost every second.
• To date, earth has lost 50% of its tropical forests worldwide.
• Many countries have lost between 70% and 95% of their forests in a very short timespan. In a 15 year timespan, Nigeria lost 79% of its old growth forests!
• Earth’s forests are being cut down at the same rate in which the human population is increasing. The alarming thing is that this rate is actually accelerating.
• At the current rate of deforestation, we will only have 20% of the world’s forests left by 2030. 10% will be in a degraded condition.
• Experts have estimated that all of earth’s rainforests will be gone within 40 years.

Given the alarming rate of deforestation, something big needs to be done. Our increasing demand for paper doesn’t help either. In 2003, the Certified Forest Products Council said:

Worldwide demand for paper – the single largest use of wood fiber – is five times what it was in the 1950s. This number is expected to double again over the next 50 years.

What can be done about this? I’m sure plenty could be done.

To start with, paper doesn’t need to be made from wood. For example, perfectly good paper can be made out of Jute or Hemp. These plants grow much faster than trees, and use up much less land. Trees take many years to grow. Jute and Hemp are fully grown within months. They also have a higher biological efficiency than trees planted for the same purpose.

We need to start thinking about ways to reduce deforestation - then act on it. Otherwise, some of us may actually see a day where there are no rainforests left.

Ever wonder what the age of the oldest tree in the world is? Hundreds of years old? Thousands? Or maybe even hundreds of thousands of years old?

As with most natural living things on this earth, there’s some debate about exactly which tree is deemed to be the oldest. Regardless of the debate, here’s a list of some quite special (and old) trees/bushes:

• UPDATE 20 April, 2008: Since posting this article, a new discovery has been made in Sweden. A tenacious spruce tree with a root system 9,550 years old.
• The most likely contender at this stage is a tree that goes by the name of “Methuselah“. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Methuselah, would now be 4,769 years old. Methuselah is a Bristlecone Pine located in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California. Methuselah isn’t the only “oldie” in this forest. The other Bristlecone Pines in this forest are all over 4,000 years old too!
• A tree called Prometheus (also known as WPN-114) was thought to be around 4,900 years old (some reports claim 5,000 years old - until it was cut down for research purposes in 1964. Prometheus, also a Bristlecone Pine, grew at Wheeler in eastern Nevada, USA.
• A creosote bush called “King Clone” in the Mojave Desert is said to be 11,700 years old.
• In 2005, it was thought that another creosote bush in Palm Springs could be older than King Clone - as much as 20,000 years old. I’m not sure if this report was confirmed or not.
• In 1995, an extraordinary Huon pine tree was found in Tasmania, Australia. What was thought to be many trees covering 2.5 acres, appeared to be just one tree - a very old tree. Some media reports claimed it could be 30,000 to 40,000 years old. Scientists weren’t confirming this, but said that it was plausible that the trees could actually be one very old, underground tree.
• And… not exactly a living tree, but last year, scientists claimed to have found what could be the world’s oldest tree - in the form of a fossil. The tree, called Wattieza would have lived around 385 - 397 million years ago.

Hemp is the common name for the cannabis family of plants, although the word is typically used in reference to industrial hemp.

What is Industrial Hemp?

The term industrial hemp refers to cannabis strains cultivated for non-drug usage. Industrial hemp is usually referred to, simply as hemp. Most of the time, when someone talks about hemp, they are referring to industrial hemp.

Hemp is an extremely versatile, natural fiber. It is sometimes referred to as a “super fiber” due to it’s amazing range of benefits and attributes. Hemp is the strongest natural fiber in the world, and it has been cultivated for a wide variety of purposes for thousands of years. In fact, the earliest known woven fabric was made of hemp over 10,000 years ago.

In recent years, hemp has been gaining a reputation as an environmentally friendly alternative to many other fibers. For example, hemp clothing and accessories are becoming popular alternatives to their cotton or polyester counterparts.

Despite hemp’s usefulness, it is often misunderstood. Because hemp is closely related to marijuana, some people assume it can be misused (i.e. for drug use). The fact is that industrial hemp doesn’t contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to make it a psychoactive drug (such as marijuana).

Environmental Benefits of Hemp

To say that hemp is environmentally friendly is an understatement. Hemp contains so many environmental benefits, it’s amazing it’s not more popular. Hopefully this will change as the climate change / global warming debate heats up further.

For starters, hemp can be grown in most climates, without pesticides, and uses very little water. Also, hemp products are 100% biodegradable.

Here are some more of hemp’s environmental benefits.

Hemp Laws

Currently, hemp is allowed to be grown virtually anywhere in the world - except the U.S.. In the U.S. hemp cultivation is now illegal. This is unfortunate given the enormous environmental benefits to be gained from industrial hemp.

Hemp wasn’t always illegal in America though. Here are some interesting facts about hemp laws and usage in the U.S.:

• The first American flag was made from hemp.
• The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were drafted on hemp, and then copied onto parchment.
• U.S. presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp.
• Benjamin Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper.
• During the second world war, the U.S. government actually subsidized hemp.
• During the Colonial Era and Early Republic, American farmers were legally bound to grow hemp.
• In 1937, hemp cultivation was outlawed in the U.S..
• Although it’s illegal to grow hemp in the U.S., it’s not illegal to import or use products made from hemp.

Given the obvious environmental benefits of hemp, and the non-issue regarding it’s association with marijuana, the U.S. hemp laws are apparently in urgent need of review.

As Thomas Jefferson once said “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country”

…or as George Washington said, “Make the most of the Indian Hemp Seed and sow it everywhere“!

Uses for Hemp

Being such a versatile fiber, there are literally thousands of uses for hemp. Many people claim that there are over 25,000 known uses for hemp!

Without naming all 25,000 uses(!), hemp can be used in a wide range of areas including consumer textiles (eg, clothing, bags), industrial textiles (eg, ropes, nets), food (eg, oils, supplements), body care products (eg, soap, shampoo), and building materials (eg, fiberboard, hempcrete).

For more detail, check out my post on the uses of hemp.

Industrial hemp is gaining a lot of respect around the world for its amazing versatility and environmental benefits. Many companies are turning to hemp in order to make their products more sustainable and eco-friendly in general.

Unfortunately, widespread acceptance of hemp still has a long way to go. Many people are oblivious to the great benefits of hemp. Some (incorrectly) assume that it’s a drug (because of its close association with marijuana). The U.S. government has even made it illegal to grow hemp. This does not make it easy for those of us who are trying to do the right thing!

Hemp cultivation can provide many benefits for the environment. Also, hemp products can provide further environmental benefits when comparing them to products made from other fibers.

Here are some key reasons why hemp should become much more widely used than it currently is.

Growing Hemp

Here are some of the major environmental benefits of growing hemp:

• Fast and robust growth: Hemp grows extremely fast and can be grown in any climate, in any agronomic system
• No herbicides/pesticides required: Hemp can be grown with no (or little) herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, or other biocides.
• Suppresses weeds: Hemp is a natural weed suppressor due to the fast growth of the canopy. Actually, hemp is a weed. Because it grows so fast and densely, it blocks out sunlight to other weeds that are trying to grow.
• Improves soil structure: Due to it’s long roots, hemp replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen and helps control erosion of topsoil. Also, once harvested, any residue can act as an eco-friendly manure.
• Hemp produces lots of oxygen: Hemp produces the same amount of oxygen while it’s growing that it would use in carbon dioxide if burned as a fuel. Also, due to it’s leaf/root ratio (this can often be 10% roots vs 30% leaves), hemp can produce between 20% - 40% more oxygen than will be polluted.
• Cleans up pollution: Hemp can actually clean up toxins from the ground. This process is called phytoremediation. A good example of this is when hemp was used to help clean up the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site to remove radioactive elements from the ground.

Hemp Products

Naturally, products made from hemp are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable. Also, the speed at which hemp grows can provide benefits regarding the resource requirements of the end product.

Here are some examples of how hemp products could benefit our environment and our health:

• Switching to hemp paper could reduce deforestation significantly. For every 4 acres of trees that are required annually to make paper, only an acre of hemp would be required. Furthermore, because hemp paper can be recycled so many times (up to 7 or 8 times), much less is needed. In comparison, paper from wood pulp can only be recycled around 3 times. This means even more trees are required.
• Clothing and textiles made from hemp have no residual chemicals that could affect our health (as many other fabrics do).
• Hemp based fabrics block the sun’s UV rays more effectively than other fabrics. This is true, even if it’s only a 50% blend with another fabric.
• Hemp oil is the richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (the “good” fats)

It’s widely known that hemp can be used in so many ways as an eco-friendly alternative to current methods. Given that so many of today’s products are produced from toxic materials, by switching to hemp based products, the benefits for the environment (and ourselves) would be enormous.

Hemp is renown for its extreme versatility and eco-friendliness. Given the rising interest in hemp, particularly as an eco-friendly alternative to so many other ingredients, I thought I’d gather together a bit of hemp trivia.

Here are some interesting facts about hemp:

• Hemp is the strongest natural fiber in the world
• The earliest known woven fabric was made of hemp over 10,000 years ago (possibly even 11,000 or 12,000 years ago)
• The original denim jeans by Levi Strauss were made out of hemp, due to its durability.
• Hemp was used to help clean up the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site (due to its ability to suck radioactive toxins out of the ground).
• The word “canvas” is derived from the word “cannabis”. This is because hemp was originally used to make canvas.
• Car manufacturers such as Ford, GM, Chrysler, Saturn, BMW, and Mercedes are using hemp composite in various parts of their vehicles
• Companies such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and The Body Shop are all starting to use hemp in their products

And, isn’t it so ironic that hemp cultivation is now illegal in the U.S. given it’s permanently etched into the history of the U.S.A…..

• The first American flag was made from hemp.
• Both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were drafted on hemp, and then copied onto parchment.
• U.S. presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp.
• During the second world war, the U.S. government actually subsidized hemp.
• During the Colonial Era and Early Republic, American farmers were legally bound to grow hemp.
• Thomas Jefferson once wrote “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country“
• U.S. president George Washington once wrote, “Make the most of the Indian Hemp Seed and sow it everywhere!“

The great thing about bamboo clothing is that, not only is it soft and comfortable, but it also has some great environmental benefits.

The Comfort Factor

Bamboo clothing is said to be softer than cotton, with a texture more like that of silk or cashmere.

Bamboo clothing also absorbs moisture quickly. It actually draws moisture away from your skin, so it’s perfect for summer months or warmer climates, as well as for vigorous activities such as playing sports, bush walking, running, cycling etc. Pure bamboo clothes also dry in about half the time as cotton clothing.

Bamboo clothes are perfect to wear all year round - they’ll keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The Environmental Benefits

The environmental benefits of bamboo clothing are also very impressive.

Growing Bamboo

Here are some environmental facts about growing bamboo plants:

• Bamboo plants can grow successfully without any fertilisers or pesticides.
• Bamboo grows extremely fast - it’s the fastest growing plant on the planet. Bamboo has been known to grow 3 - 4 feet per day!
• Bamboo doesn’t require a lot of water to grow.
• Bamboo is a very hardy plant - it can survive drought conditions and flood conditions.
• Bamboo plants release lots of oxygen into the air. A grove of bamboo release 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.
• Bamboo is a very earth friendly plant. It can reduce soil erosion and desertization. It can actually improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas.

Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo fabric is created from the bamboo pulp. It doesn’t need chlorine to bleach it and it can be dyed easily with minimal water requirements. Fabrics that don’t dye easily are often treated with harsh chemicals and much more water, so an organic fabric that dyes easy is generally better for the environment.

And of course, bamboo clothing is 100% biodegradable, so you know your old bamboo garments aren’t going to end up in landfill for hundreds of years along with the other non-biodegradable junk.

Bamboo clothing really is a comfortable and environmentally friendly choice!

Where can I buy Bamboo Clothing?

You might be able to find bamboo clothes at your local organic clothing store. Otherwise, there are plenty of place to order bamboo clothes online.

For example, Amazon.com has a variety of bamboo clothes and other bamboo fiber products.

You might also like to check the comments section below, for readers’ suggestions on bamboo clothing stores.

Henry Ford, loved soybeans.

Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, loved soybeans so much, that he even wore a “soybean suit”. This suit was made of a special silk, which was derived from soy fibers, and Ford would wear it on special occasions, promoting the usage of soy beans. It’s thought to be the world’s first suit made from soybeans.

Did I mention Ford loved soy beans? The upholstery in the Ford motor vehicles were actually made from soy fibers. Ford even received a patent for building plastic car bodies based on soy bean oil!

Since the days of Henry Ford, soy bean fibers haven’t really taken off in the clothing/fabric market. But nowadays, with the environment being such a major concern around the world, soy bean fibers may just make a comeback.

I’ve already posted about the tallest tree in the world. And I’ve posted about the top 15 tallest California redwood trees, which are the tallest known living trees today.

In this post, I’ll talk about the tallest tree ever recorded. Or maybe that should be, the tallest trees ever recorded.

Australia’s Eucalyptus regnans trees (also referred to as Eucalyptus trees) have been widely regarded as the tallest trees ever recorded.

Here’s a list of some of the tallest Eucalyptus trees ever recorded:

• Many sources have stated that the tallest tree ever recorded is the “Ferguson Tree” (measured by William Ferguson). On February 21, 1872, the fallen tree was measured at 132.6 meters (435 feet) - and that was after the top had broken off! The trunk, where it had broken off, was still a meter in diameter, and some estimated that the tree could have been taller than 152.4 meters (500 feet) tall.
• Another tall tree was the “Robinson Tree” (measured by G.W. Robinson) at Mount Baw Baw. In 1889, the Robinson Tree was found to be 143 meters (470 fee) tall.
• In 1867 another Eucalyptus tree was measured at 132.9 meters (436 feet)
• A Eucalytus tree known as T. Rolla Tree was measured at 124.9 meters (410 feet)
• The “David Boyle Tree” (measured by David Boyle) was located in the Dandenong Ranges (near Melbourne). In 1862 it was measured at 119 meters (390 feet), but it had fallen and had a broken top. David estimated that the tree would have been 128 meters (420 feet) if it’d kept it’s top.
• In 1888, the Menzies Creek tree was measured at 122 meters (400 feet) after it had fallen.
• In 1866, the C Walter tree was said to be 118.8 meters (390 feet)
• In 1880, the Cornthwaite tree was measured at 114 meters (374 feet) after it had been cut down. It was located in South Gippsland in the Thorpdale area.

Isn’t it a shame that the tallest trees always seem to get cut down?

I remember, as a kid, being fascinated in world records. For some reason, I loved reading about anything that was the biggest, fastest, longest, oldest, tallest… anything that made it stand out from the rest of the pack.

Now many years later, I still remember reading that the tallest tree was a California redwood. And if memory serves me correctly, the 2nd tallest was also a California redwood. I’ve now learned that these are also known by other names - such as Coast redwood, redwood, coastal sequoia, palo colorado, giant redwood, and of course, it’s technical name of Sequoia sempervirens.

So, given that there are so many tall California redwoods, I decided to search for the top 10 redwood trees. What I ended up with was a list of the top 15 tallest redwoods.

These were all measured by tape drop and/or Criterion 400 laser surveyor. The tape drop is the most accurate method of measuring a tree. You can see the tape drop in action on the tallest tree in the world.

There’s little argument that the California redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest living trees on our planet. These trees often grow to more than 100 meters tall.

In August 2006, a new “tallest tree in the world” was found. Once again, it was a California redwood, and it’s location was Redwood Forest ( Redwood National Park, California). This tree has been named “Hyperion” (from Greek mythology) and stands 115.55 meters (379.1 feet) tall!

How did they Measure the Tree?

The most accurate way of measuring a tall tree like Hyperion is to climb to the top, and drop a weighted tape measure. And that’s exactly what Steve Sillett did. Here’s a 2 part video of Steve measuring the world’s tallest tree for The Guinness Book of World Records. This video footage was taken for National Geographic.

Part 1:

Part 2:
And here’s Jim Speckler measuring the same tree:

So there you have it, the world’s tallest tree - or should I say, the world’s tallest, measured, tree!