Christmas Trees and the Environment
Christmas tree growers in New Hampshire and Vermont are helping to keep more than 7,000 acres in agriculture. At a time of increasing development, supporting local farmers is one way to support the land.
And, real Christmas tree farms do much more than supply beautiful decorations during the holidays. Studies show that every acre of Christmas trees grown produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.
In the United States, there are approximately 500,000 acres of Christmas Trees, which means that 9 million people a day are supplied with oxygen thanks to these trees. At the same time, as part of the growing process, Christmas trees are capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What's more, Christmas tree farms are home to wildlife such as deer, turkey, fox and countless species of birds, while helping to stabilize the soil and protect water supplies.
While Christmas tree farms on average plant one to three new young trees for every tree they harvest, ensuring a renewable crop, artificial trees are manufactured using materials such as vinyl and lead - often originating in China where safety standards are less than stringent. These materials become even more of a concern when the artificial trees are handled by children or are burned.
Farm-grown Christmas trees are also a renewable resource, as observed by Dr. Patrick Moore, a forest biologist and former president of Greenpeace. He advises buyers to select real Christmas trees rather than artificial or "fake" trees. "I often say that one way to protect the environment is to choose renewable materials and energy wherever possible," says Moore. "Artificial trees are made from non-renewable plastics and petroleum-based products. Although some people claim that these trees last a lifetime, most are thrown away within nine years - and remain in landfill sites for centuries."
While artificial trees are disposed of in landfills, there are now thousands of recycling programs available in local communities around the country to make good use of real Christmas trees after the display season ends. Some programs chip the trees and use the biodegradable mulch on playgrounds and hiking trails, while other initiatives use whole trees as natural erosion control on stream banks and other slopes. To learn more about Christmas tree recycling programs in your area, call the Vermont Recycling Hotline at (800) 932-7100 or the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services at (603) 271-3712.
Christmas tree farms make a great destination for school field trips. The National Christmas Tree Association offers a great resource for teachers and parents (www.realtrees4kids.org) that includes grade-appropriate lessons about tree farming practices and environmental issues. Contact the NHVTCTA for assistance in locating a Christmas tree farmer in your area who would be willing to host a class field trip.
Christmas Tree Pests
Management of Balsam Gall Midge in Christmas Tree Plantations