Kale Tree Supports Sierra Club’s Campaign to Protect California’s Forests
Yucca, Pine trees, Cyprus trees, and grasses. Angeles National Forest, California.
California's forests are abundant with natural wonders to explore. According to the US Department of Agriculture, forest land makes up one-third of California's total land area. California's forests host millions of residents and visitors enjoying our state's natural beauty while participating in endless recreational and educational activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.
Red-shouldered Hawk (Bueto lineatus) located in Three Rivers, Southern Sierra Nevada, California.
While spending time outdoors is a valuable experience that enriches our quality of life, California's lush forests also provide vital services to a healthy ecosystem, including plant and wildlife biodiversity, flood and erosion control, and climate regulation. In addition, a healthy forest contributes to healthy air quality and reduces the impacts of climate change by absorbing Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere.
Three Rivers, Southern Sierra Nevada, California.
California's forests are also a source of reliable, clean drinking water for our state's communities. By supplying and regulating water through meadows and watersheds year-round, our forests provide 65 percent of the state's clean water. Consequently, in drought-prone California, our water supply is dependent on our forest's health and function.
The sunset sky in Three Rivers, Southern Sierra Nevada, California.
As our climate continues to change and wildfires become a more common occurrence in California, there are several challenges that we must face in maintaining the health of our state's forests. A significant threat to the health of California's forests is an extreme logging method known as "clearcutting." Clearcutting involves cutting down natural forests and pouring herbicides on the site to make room for human-made tree plantations. These tree plantations do not replicate the ecosystems of a healthy forest and therefore pose a danger to California's biodiversity, air purity, water supply, and climate regulation.
Wolf Lichens (Genus Letharia) located in the Sequoia National Forest, California.
The protection of California's forests is essential to our livelihoods. Unfortunately, more than 50,000 acres of Californian forest are cut down every year due to clearcutting. Sierra Club's "Stop Clearcutting CA" campaign is raising awareness of the dangers of clearcutting and its adverse impacts on California's ecological wellbeing.
Chaparral Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) located in Southern Sierra Nevada, California.
As a naturalist and advocate for environmentally compassionate design, Kale Tree Founder Sarah Barnard LEED AP, and WELL AP, is inspired to support Sierra Club's "Stop Clearcutting CA" mission to protect California's environment. To raise awareness of the urgent need to protect our forests, Barnard will utilize her skills as an artist to contribute photography of flora, fauna, and funga found in California's forests. She will continue to document forests, bodies of water, and wildlife for Sierra Club's campaign throughout the year.
Sparse Pine and Cyprus trees in Angeles National Forest, California.
If you wish to help preserve California's natural forests and support the "Stop Clearcutting CA" campaign, you are invited to sign Sierra Club's petition to Governor Newsom to end clearcutting in California's forests. Visit Sierra Club's website and resource page for more ways you can help protect California's forests and join the group on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Dried Pine leaves (needles) located in Three Rivers, Southern Sierra Nevada, California.
Bibliography
Balloffet, N; Deal, R; Hines, Sarah; Larry, B; Smith, N. 2012. Ecosystem Services and Climate Change. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center. www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/ecosystem-services
“Focus on Forestlands in California.” USDA Climate Hubs. www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/california/topic/focus-forestlands-california.
“Nature's Benefits.” Angeles National Forest - about the Forest. www.fs.usda.gov/detail/angeles/about-forest/?cid=fseprd604146.
“Stop Clearcutting CA.” Sierra Club. https://www.sierraclub.org/grassroots-network/stop-clearcutting-ca.
Trail signage at the Red Box Picnic Area in the Angeles National Forest, site of the 2020 Bobcat Fire.
Happy World Bee Day!
Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) + California native Wild Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, Blueblossom)
The UN has designated May 20th as World Bee Day to celebrate bees and highlight their essential work in the function of our ecosystem. Through pollination, bees work together with many species such as butterflies and hummingbirds to create a livable environment for all, contributing massive efforts to biodiversity and food security. Unfortunately, despite their critical role in maintaining a habitable ecosystem, the bee population is rapidly declining due to unsustainable farm practices and rising temperatures. As a team of nature enthusiasts and bee lovers, Kale Tree celebrates World Bee Day by sharing our appreciation of this incredibly hardworking and diverse insect.
Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) + Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)
Bees are an extraordinarily diverse species-- There are 30,000 different species of bee across the world, approximately 4,000 species in the United States, and over 1,500 identified bee species just in California! As such, California is home to some of the most diverse bee populations in the country, which is reflected by the state's equally large and diverse plant population.
One of the many bees you can find in California is the Apis mellifera, commonly known as a Honey Bee. Aptly named, Honey Bees are the only bee species that make enough honey to harvest. Honey Bees are highly social and are identifiable by their thick bodies and yellow or brown striped abdomens. Male Honey Bees do not have stingers, although they are typically larger than their female friends. Although Honey Bees can be found in California, they are native to Europe and pollinate in areas worldwide.
Female Valley Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa sonorina) + Popcorn Cassia (Senna didymobotrya)
Another bee commonly found in California is the gentle Xylocopa, also known as Carpenter Bees. Carpenter bees are shiny, large, and stout in appearance and have sparse hair covering their bodies. There are three different species of Carpenter bees in California, and they tend to nest in soft, decaying woods. Carpenter bees have small mouths and typically visit larger flowers as they are easier to derive nectar.
Male Valley Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa sonorina) + Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, “Creole Lady”)
Black-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) + California Vervain (Verbena lasiostachys)
The ever-fuzzy, stout, and large Bombus, or Bumble Bee has black hair covering their bodies with yellow, white, or red bands. There have been 27 different Bumble Bees recorded in California, and the Bombus californicus or California Bumble Bee is native to the state. Bumble Bees tend to nest underground, but some species are known to nest in abandoned bird nests or birdhouses. Bumble Bees pollinate from a broad range of plants and food sources, including avocados, cherries, and blackberries. Bumble Bees are unique in their ability to engage in "buzz pollination," in which they vibrate at a frequency required for pollen to release from plants such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
Black-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) + California native, Vervain (Verbena lasiostachys)
A tiny Sweatbee (Family Halictidae) clings to California native, Tansy Leaved Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
Many people think of bees as pests and take measures to deter them from gardens and outdoor activities to avoid being stung. However, bees are generally non-aggressive and can be easily identified by their compact, hairy bodies to distinguish against common stinging insects, such as wasps, who have long bodies with little to no hair. While there are thousands of bee species on Earth, many are identifiable through their branch-like hair, two pairs of wings, and "well-developed antennae."
Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) + Champagne Bubbles Yellow Icelandic Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
We can support bees and their pollination efforts by creating gardens that are attractive to many species of bees. With the right plants and a little research, your garden can attract up to fifty different bee species. Flowering California native plants can be beautiful additions to your garden while helping to support bees.
At Kale Tree, we celebrate bees every day through our nature-inspired, eco-friendly home decor.
Bibliography
Frankie, Gordon W., et al. California Bees and Gardens. Heyday, 2014.
Jadallah, Christopher, et al. Common Bees in California Gardens. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2015.
“World Bee Day.” United Nations, United Nations, 2022, https://www.un.org/en/observances/bee-day.