Weekend Musings–“In the Land of Giants” NY Times Article by Jon Mooallem Gives and Finds Sequoia Perspective
In our weekend musings about what’s tracking with forests in other places, Author, Jon Mooallem, gets some human perspective from giant sequoias on a wintry visit to California’s Sequoia National Park in a New York Times article,  In the Land of the Giants. Mooallem provides history on the park’s establishment which includes back story on the Kaweah Colony, a collective of fifty three individuals who, in 1885, filed, according to Mooallem, for “8,000 adjoining acres centered in the Giant Forest.”  Great article for historic facts and Mooallem’s perspectives on these giants’ timelines, the public’s reaction to them and his own visit to the park.
Applicants Sought for Hawaii Island Forestry Advisory Council positions
Hawaii 24/7 has just posted a media release “The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, is now accepting applications for vacant seats on the LaupÄhoehoe Advisory Council (LAC) and the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council (PAC) on Hawai‘i island.”
Hawaii Forest Industry Association Plants Douglas fir Christmas Trees March 3 and Invites You to Volunteer
HFIA’s ‘Aina Mauna Christmas Tree Planting of Douglas fir trees on the slopes of Mauna Kea will take place on March 3 on the slopes of Mauna Kea from 8 :00 am-12:30 pm and you’re invited to volunteer to help. Horticulturist Aileen Yeh of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center will lead the efforts. Space is limited and sign up is suggested. See the Hawaii Tribune Herald article for more information.
If you want to see how Douglas fir seeds, sent from Vancouver Island and Washington, grow into trees to plant, see Aileen Yeh’s pdf presentation on the HFIA website.
Portion of Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary Preserved
Max Dible of West Hawaii Today writes that “Norman Bezona, a retired professor emeritus from the University of Hawai’i College of Tropical Agriculture and the steward of the (Cloud Forest) sanctuary has entered into a conservation agreement with Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT) “.  Read the article and see the images.
Find out more about the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary here .  To see a visitor’s video (Daniele Giacametti) of the forest view this YouTube video .
To learn more about the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust visit their site. If you’d like to have some basic information on cloud forests, aka montane forests, try good old wiki. If you’re even more curious about plants and watersheds in Hawai’i visit CTAHR”S Forest Hydrology Site .
State Board of Land and Natural Resources Approves Carbon Credits Initiative–“Growing Trees will Provide Opportunity for Purchase of Credits”
A Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources  news release on January 30, 2017 announced, “If you drive a car, fly in a plane, use air conditioning to cool your home, or engage in other activity powered by fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gas, you may soon have new ways to offset your emissions locally, by supporting Hawaiian forest restoration.”
The release announces approval of Hawai’i’s first-ever carbon offset in State forests. “DLNR and its Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will now issue a request for proposals for private entities to create a carbon forestry project in the Pu’u Mali Restoration Area in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve on Hawai’i Island.” the announcement states. See the full release for more details.