We Hear Back From The Millenium Seed Bank!

Hello SuperForest.

We have some very good news!
We've just received an email from Mr. Rob Yates at the Millennium Seed Bank.

"Dear Jackson,

We appreciate your interest and support. Your email has generated a great deal of enthusiasm here, it’s good to know that like minded people around the world share our concerns for global conservation!

The Millennium Seed Bank Project is funded and managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. We are incorporated in the US as the American Society for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

You can mail a cheque to the following address:

Terri Seei: American Society for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1530 South State St Unit 501 Chicago, IL 60605 USA

The Millennium Seed Bank Project is a global partnership working in more than 50 countries with more than 100 partners worldwide; our aim is to conserve 10% of the world’s wild plant species by 2010. Your support will help us achieve this.

Seed banking is a remarkably simple conservation tool. We collect seeds in the field and take no more than would be necessary for natural regeneration. We dry them to a moisture content that will allow them to survive at -20C. On average, this extends their lifespan for hundreds of years.

Like a Bank, we can withdraw the deposits and put them to good use: to conduct germination tests to make sure they are still viable, or to grow plants to restore habitats, or to put plants back into their native habitats.

In America, we are working directly with one main government partner the Bureau of Land Management and five NGO partners, but many other organisations are associated. Recent trips in the US have yielded some great collections, notably the attractive Trillium grandiflorum, and some valuable native grasses from Texas such as the annual muhly Muhlenbergia minutissima.

We know that wild plants play critical roles in the ecosystem, providing wildlife habitat, contributing to water quality, flood management and soil stability. They also provide people with their daily livelihoods. Our work focuses very much on wild plants that are endangered, endemic and of great economic use primarily to subsistence communities.

We have some great stories about how our work really benefits people; the Mongongo tree from Botswana is one example. The tree produces a highly nutritious fruit and a nut that is a part of the daily diet of subsistence communities. Our partners in Botswana were struggling to germinate seedlings. From 100 seeds, they would produce less than 15 trees. We shared our protocols with our partners and they saw a dramatic rise in the success of seedlings to germinate. From 100 seeds, they were able to produce 87 saplings.

Globally, we estimate 60,000 to 100,000 plant species are threatened with extinction. With climate change and habitat loss, it is vital that we conserve as many plants as possible before they go extinct. For future generations to meet the challenges of an uncertain future, they will need the greatest biological inheritance we can bequeath them. The Millennium Seed Bank delivers this.

On average, it costs £2000 ($3,062) to save a species. We believe it is a small price to pay for all that plants provide. For me the great thing about saving plants is that we do not yet know many of the secrets they possess. For example, does a particular plant hold the cure for cancer?

If you would like any further information, please do email. If you make it to the UK, I would be delighted to give you a tour of the Millennium Seed Bank.

Once again thank your for your support, it will help us make a real difference.

Rob Yates"

Well, that's very encouraging!
And with that, I'm delighted to give a huge thank you to SuperForesters Mary Ann and
Jon for donating to the Save-A-Seed project.

Good news all around.

-Jackson

Kids on 2 Wheels

First of all... what an attractive logo this is.

Second of all... Kids on 2 Wheels is awesome.

Sure, they don't have a fancy website or a huge following, but they have amazing volunteers that help special needs or disabled kids have the opportunity to learn to ride a two wheel bike.

Its easy to forget the little things that make kids feel free, happy, and like they fit in with their peers. Unfortunately many disabled kids need more attention when learning to do things (like ride bikes and play sports) than their parents are able to give them. This organization has volunteers that spend hours with kids teaching them to hop up on two wheels.

One touching quote that my roommate overheard when she was volunteering recently involved a young boy who was "such a gentleman" and had a tough time keeping his body moving at a fast enough pace. She was unsure that he was going to be able to get up on those two wheels but just being able to try that hard and get the chance to made him say to her, "I'm just so proud of myself!" When he proved her wrong and did get up on two wheels by himself, he had the biggest grin on his face. She felt great being a part of that moment, because its those little things that really matter to kids.

So... if these are moments that you value, too, then see if there are organizations in your community that allow you these moments. Kids on 2 Wheels is located primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin so if you're curious about how you can help (even if you're not in the area) then here it is:

"There are a couple of ways that you can help us. One way is to send us a check for an amount of your choice. Any amount will help! One year we anonymously received a $10 bill in the mail -- that made our day, and it was put to good use! Additionally, you can donate your used bikes and training bars when your child no longer needs them. We will use them for other children who may not be able to afford to buy their own."

They never have a shortage of kids in need. In fact, they have a long waiting list. So the more money, bikes, and volunteers they can get, the better!

I hope this inspires you to search for organizations in your area, or to start one yourself!

Bike riding.... all the cool kids are doing it!

Heifer.Org: No They're Not Calling You Fat

They're not even trying to MAKE you fat.  Nope.  The people at Heifer.org are busy feeding people that really need it.  Many of you Superforesters may already know about organizations like this.  But for those of you who don't, here is the gist of it:

They gather people like you to donate gifts of farm animals.  Thats right.  You can donate not just money, but an animal that can help families become self reliant and sustainable in their own communities.  The catalog of animals, like heifers, water buffalo, goats, geese, honeybees, etc. has a wealth of information regarding what kinds of animals benefit different poverty situations.

This method of teaching struggling families how to grow their own food, cultivate it, sell it, and return the profits to the community by passing on the benefits can help create a more independent community.  A community that works together to make itself stronger and healthier.

The cornerstones of their organization create the acronym: PASSING on the GIFTS

Passing on the gift

Accountability

Sharing and caring

Sustainability and self reliance

Improved animal management

Nutrition and income

Gender and family focus

on the

Genuine need and justice

Improving the environment

Full participation

Training and education

Spirituality

You wanna know what else is cool?  Kids at school can use this program as a fundraiser for their classmates.  What better way to teach the next generation about sustainability and caring for our communities than by encouraging them and teaching them to help their fellow man!?

Please, check it out and see if you can gather your own community to chip in and help a community in need!

Aren't they nice little sheep?