Ways to Help – SEEDS

Scientific Research:

You can always contribute to forestry by improving the existing knowledge on relevant issues. This can be done through studies and research projects. ESA SEEDS offers many opportunities. Usually school programs would provide information on fellowship and grant opportunities available to students, including federal and NGO programs. Try looking beyond your own school and try searching through the website of specific programs to narrow the scope. The links below provide great information, and can serve as examples in your search:

http://www.mtu.edu/forest/research/international/funding.html

http://www.environmentalcareerresources.uhh.hawaii.edu/funding_opportunities.html

https://www.nrsm.umn.edu/current-students/external-funding-opportunities

You can consider pursuing a research career in this field.

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Political Engagement:

By engaging in the public policy processes you can make an impact on the policies and regulations developed on the issue. As a foundation of the US governmental system, stakeholder input or public participation is essential for producing sound decisions and solutions. As active users of forest resources and products, as well as relevant resources such as water, you are an important stakeholder.

Some ways to participate in our governmental processes are:

Support and elect officials who support the right causes. Attend community election forums and town meetings where candidates discuss their views and find out where they stand. Monitor a candidate’s voting record and compile voting charts on officials running for re-election to help inform the general public. Request that first-time candidates, who are without a voting record, complete an environmental survey.[1]
Reaching out to media or elected officials:Send your suggestions to newspapers or online media to garner public attention. You can also try writing to elected officials or regulatory agencies to promote your cause. The best time to do that is usually before a decision was to be made.
Organize campaigns.You can organize a campaign for or against a policy in your neighborhood or at school. However, make sure that this is done within regulatory limits. Be clear and concise in your messaging.

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Education Outreach:

Education outreach is a great way to market your cause. A lot of forestry-related issues may not be directly visible in daily life, especially in urban areas. In this case it is important that more people be made aware of the seriousness of the situation. In doing this, the most important thing is to be aware of your audience. Design your outreach content to be suitable for the age and educational level of your target audience. Below are some outreach materials that you can potentially use:

Forestry: http://www.nacdnet.org/education/resources/forestry

http://eschooltoday.com/forests/deforestation-prevention-tips-for-kids.html

Watersheds: http://allaboutwatersheds.org/library/educational-technical-legal-resources/educational-materials

Climate Change: http://www.uwpcc.washington.edu/outreach/tertiary.jsp?entity=INSTRC&action=GetEntity&title=Materials%20for%20Educators

Invasive Species: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/toolkit/outreach.shtml

Forest Protection:

Look for these symbols as a consumer:

rec

Recyclable

Products marked with this logo contain recycled materials. Look for products marked with a high-percentage of recycled waste, such as 80% or 100%.

It’s best to choose paper products that are labeled as recycled from ‘post-consumer waste.’ This means that it reuses paper products discarded by people, including old newspapers, magazines, cardboard, office paper, etc. Other kinds of recycled paper uses paper scraps and trimmings discarded in the paper mill or the print factory.

Recyclable

Products marked with this image can be recycled, but may not be made from recycled materials. Be sure to recycle.

Forest Stewardship Council-Certified

Look for the FSC logo on wood and paper products. FSC is the only credible forest certification, ensuring that products come from socially and ecologically managed forests. If you cannot find FSC-certified products, ask your retailer to stock them.

The FSC is an international, non-profit association comprised of economic, social indigenous and environmental interests. Find out more here.

Rainforest Alliance-Certified/Verified

What it’s found on: Coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit juice, wood and paper products, personal care products and more. The symbol shows that the product is produced according to the Rainforest Alliance standards that focus on sustainability.

Eat organic: Organic and locally grown foods help reduce the clearing of forests for agricultural lands. In addition, visit your local food store and choose organic products, most likely these will be sold with no paper or plastic packaging, which will also help reduce your impact.[4]
Reduce paper use: print less, use recycled paper, recycle your own paper.

Watershed Protection:[5]

Use water efficiently. Collect rainwater for watering your garden. Use the water used for washing vegetables to water plants. Wash car(s) on grass to catch runoff.
Learn about your local watershed. Browse information online, find it on a topography map, explore a local stream, etc. Learn about its characteristics and the wildlife that use it as a habitat.
If you live by a waterway, plant trees or shrubs to help hold the soil in place.
Dispose of chemicals properly. Never pour chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil or paint into the drain or toilets. Check with your county’s household hazardous waste program to properly dispose of or recycle chemicals and keep them out of rivers and oceans.
Participate in community clean-ups.

Invasive Species Control:[6]

Verify that the plants you are buying for your yard or garden are not invasive. Replace invasive plantsin your garden with non-invasive alternatives. Ask your local nursery staff for help in identifying invasive plants.
When boating, clean your boat thoroughly before transporting it to a different body of water.
Clean your boots before you hike in a new area to get rid of hitchhiking weed seeds and pathogens.
Be careful with what you carry when traveling. Fruits and vegetables, plants, insects and animals can carry pests or become invasive themselves.
Don’t release aquarium fish and plants, live bait or other exotic animals into the wild.
Volunteer at your local park, refuge or other wildlife area to help remove invasive species. Help educate others about the threat.

In addition, check out some common invasive species (possibly) in your backyard!http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/forests/explore/backyard-invasives.xml

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Individual Behavior:

There are countless ways that you can help to protect forests and watersheds in your daily life. A single person can make a difference, however small. Try promoting this to people around you, your outreach audience, and more for a much greater impact.

11 things you can do to help save forests (with additional links under “sources”)

http://www.boliviabella.com/save-our-forests.html

10 thing you can do (WWF):

http://blogsno.panda.org/blog/2013/03/21/international-day-of-forests-10-tips-on-how-you-can-help-save-the-forests/

Say no to palm oil:

http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/What_can_i_do.php

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[1] (International Year of the Ocean Homepage. 1998.)

[2] http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/campaigns/forests/get-involved/

[3] http://www.mnn.com/money/sustainable-business-practices/stories/green-product-certification-21-symbols-you-should

[4] http://blogsno.panda.org/blog/2013/03/21/international-day-of-forests-10-tips-on-how-you-can-help-save-the-forests/

[5]https://www.ohioriverfdn.org/stewardship/what_you_can_do/10_ways_to_protect_your_watershed.html

[6] http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/forests/help/invasive-plant-species-invasive-species-education-1.xml