Forest Dedication Dec. 8 for San Diego County, CA

The next forest to be dedicated into the Old-Growth Forest Network will be Palomar Mountain State Park in San Diego County, California. The dedication will be held at 1pm on Sunday, Dec. 8th  All are welcome. Call for details 410-251-1800.

Jamie Phillips and Joan Maloof standing by the ancient trees at Palomar Mountain State Park

Maryland forest lovers- time to speak out

Marylanders have a great opportunity to speak out for Wildlands. This is important!
Some of the hearings have already passed, but written comments will be accepted until December 9th.
read the Baltimore Sun article here.

Musician chooses OGFN for "Play it Forward" campaign

Singer-songwriter Bob Sima has chosen the Old-Growth Forest Network as his “Play it Forward” organization of the month! Bob has been called “Eckhart Tolle with a guitar” he is more influenced by the likes of Rumi and Gandhi than he is by Dylan and Springsteen. Bob says: "Each and every song I channel begins as my personal conversation with Source delivered as life lessons of spiritual growth and transformation. Just as these conversations birth expansion, awakening, and remembrance in me, I share my gift to soften the hardest of hearts, widen the narrowest of smiles, loosen the tightest of grips, lighten the heaviest of loads, and thin the thickest of walls of as many souls as I can possibly reach."

With a life view such as that it is no surprise that Bob Sima gives away his music for free. When you go to the site below, there is a tip jar for anyone who wants to "pay" when they download any or all of the songs. All tips received during this month will be gifted to Old-Growth Forest Network!
http://www.noisetrade.com/bobsimamusic/free-bob-sima-music

Joan playing in a beech tree

On my way to Georgia

Two talks coming up this week in Georgia. The first is at Brenau University in Gainesville: Wednesday, Oct 9th, 5pm, in Thurmond McRae Auditorium. Free and open to the public. Book signing. See  http://www.brenau.edu/sustainability/ for details.

Second talk is at Simsonwood Conference Center in Norcross: Friday, October 11th, 7pm. Tickets required. Book signing. See  http://treeclimbing.com/index.php/climbing/the-2013-rendezvous for details.

A generous donation to the Old-Growth Forest Network will get you safely to the top of a tall oak tree -- guided by the best climbers in the world.

Come out to meet some great tree lovers and hear all about the Old-Growth Forest Network!

The Last Stand. Film tonight in Berlin, MD

　

Local filmmakers Holiday Phelan Johnson and Christopher Johnson will show their award winning documentary:




Sept. 5, 2013 • 6 PM The Globe Theater12 Broad Street,historic downtown Berlin, Maryland(410) 641-0784


The Last Stand

Ancient Redwoods and the Bottom Line50 min., with 10 min introduction




A pristine grove of old-growth redwoods, the Headwaters, was the largest unprotected redwood forest in the world. The film’s improbable yet true tale is one of beauty and biodiversity, junk bonds and endangered salmon, car bombs and clear-cuts, corporate takeovers and corruption. The fight over these ancient trees has even cost human lives.


Photo courtesy of EPIC, the Environmental Protection Information Center

Free, but seating is limited to the first 50 attendees.

Between 4pm and 8pm 10% of all food charges will be donated to OGFN.

Dinner reservation suggested – (410) 641 0784

After the film enjoy ‘Green Drinks’ in downtown Berlin at the Globe Bar, the Maryland Wine Bar, the Atlantic Hotel, and Burley Oak brewery (see greendrinks.org for more information).

Questions? Contact Joan Maloof joan@oldgrowthforest.net 410-251-1800

The Old-Growth Forest Network connects people with nature by creating a national network of protected, nature, native forests. For more information see www.oldgrowthforest.net.

Opposition is growing toward the Crystal Spring development in Annapolis, many want the forest saved.

The Crystal Spring development plan

One of the trees in the Crystal Spring forest

Many people in Annapolis are speaking out to preserve a mature forest inside Annapolis city limits. Here is a quote from an article describing a meeting this week:

"The large church was packed, with people not only filling all seats but standing several rows deep around the outside of the hall. Parking spilled over into nearby athletic fields."

Here is the link to the full article:
http://annearundel.patch.com/groups/tom-zolpers-blog/p/hundreds-pack-church-to-hear-opponents-view-of-crystal-spring-proposal

Trees cannot protect themselves - only people who care can protect them.

A Colorado forest for the Network

On Monday, June 24th at noon, an interesting group of tree lovers will gather at the Hermosa Creek trailhead north of Durango, Colorado, to dedicate the first Colorado forest into the Old-Growth Forest Network. The event was timed to coincide with the arrival of conservation explorer John Davis. Davis is 2,500 miles into his muscle-powered trek from northern Mexico to southern Canada to raise awareness of the need to protect critical wildlife corridors and core habitats. He also has a deep love for old-growth forests and speaks out for them whenever he has the opportunity.

 In the late 1980's, after Davis and friend Dave Foreman  mused that there must be some eastern old-growth forests left, but no one was tracking them, Davis convinced his mother Mary Byrd Davis to do the research. The result is her Old Growth in the East: A Survey -- a 273 page document which has been extremely useful.

In addition to John Davis (TrekWest) and myself (Old-Growth Forest Network), at Monday's meeting we will welcome representatives of  the Native Tree Society (Bob Leverett), the Great Old Broads for Wilderness, the San Juan Citizen's Alliance, and the U.S. Forest service. After sharing lunch together we will take a hike into the old growth. Please join us if you can.

Bob Davis, John Davis, and Joan Maloof at the Rivulet Forest in MA
 

Old-growth forest saved on Hawaii!

Never give up if the trees are still standing....that's the lesson. This beautiful old-growth Ohia forest on the Big Island of Hawaii was saved because two people cared deeply and never gave up.They hired a lawyer who took their case to court.  Luckily the judge saw through 'business as usual' at the county planning office and ruled that the forest should be saved. You can read about it here:
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/judge-rules-against-county-over-kona-permit.html

This is one of the forests I have been educating people about, and I am so very happy that it will remain standing.

Want to sleep in the top of a tree and help the Old-Growth Forest Network at the same time?

A philosopher reflects on forests and beauty

"We must include beauty as a reason for preserving mature forest lands...." Indeed. Thank you, philosopher Will Pomeroy for a mention of the Old-Growth Forest Network in Art Times. See page 13.
http://www.arttimesjournal.com/pdfs/ART_TIMES_Jan_Feb_13.pdf

Arlington National Cemetery expansion plans threaten old trees | WJLA.com

I was happy to be quoted in this news video about the proposed expansion of the Arlington National Cemetery:

"“You can’t replace this unique forest that’s so important for water quality, for habitat, for beauty,” says Joan Maloof, the founder of the Old Growth Forest Network."

Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/03/arlington-national-cemetery-expansion-plans-threaten-old-trees-86329.html#ixzz2Ntt22ttp
Arlington National Cemetery expansion plans threaten old trees | WJLA.com

 Comments will be accepted until April 12th by Susan Conner of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at susan.l.conner@usace.army.mil or 757-201-7390.

Hawaii and California forests dedicated in February

Maui County, HI, Waikamoi Ridge Trail. L to R, Joan Maloof, Dorothy McCoy, Don Martell, Kitty Edwards.

In February the Old-Growth Forest Network held dedications for four forests. The first was the Maui County, Hawaii forest. The Maui dedication was held in conjunction with an opportunity to speak about the Network at an event held at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. There were four presenters and poet W.S. Merwin was right after me! I was so honored that he mentioned me during his talk. He got a well-deserved standing ovation -- what a lovely, generous person he is.

In Maui County, although I had hiked all over (both on previous trips and this one) looking for accessible, mature, native forest, nothing of the kind could be found. After long discussions with the helpful people in the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and discussions with locals knowledgeable about the forests, I came to the sad conclusion that there are no native older forests on Maui that are readily accessible. The state-owned old-growth is "land-locked" (surrounded by privately owned land). The forest I chose for the Network has a lovely tall canopy and a nice trail, but it is not native. I am hoping that someday this situation will change and I can put a native forest into the Network instead.

While on Maui I learned about the fascinating and endangered wiliwili trees and toured their dryland forest habitat.

Honolulu County, HI, Kulana'ahane Trail; Sheryl Lynch (County Coordinator) and Joan Maloof

In Honolulu County, on the island of Oahu, we dedicated a great trail into the Network. Starting from Moanalua Valley Park a shady dirt road surrounded by big trees leads to the trailhead. The trail winds under and through a fairy-land like forest. Energetic hikers can climb the ridge for fantastic views.


Monterey County, CA, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park; L to R, David Maloof (County Coordinator), Joan Maloof, Matt Khalar (ranger), Heidi Hopkins.

In Monterey County, CA, we held a dedication of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. This is a perfect forest for the Network with its well-maintained trails, and giant old-growth redwood and sequoia trees. The park staff was a pleasure to work with!

San Mateo County, CA, Heritage Grove in Sam McDonald Park, Matt Dietz (County Coordinator), Joan Maloof, Jamie Phillips.

This San Mateo County, CA, forest had already been added to the Network, but on this trip we had a chance to hang the sign and hold a dedication. The Heritage Grove in Sam McDonald County Park is another ideal Network addition; true old-growth redwood forest with a family-friendly trail. This forest is already listed on our website: www.oldgrowthforest.net

Thanks to all our coordinators, supporters, and land managers who made these dedications possible!

Tickets are now on sale for my event with poet W.S. Merwin

Visit this link for tickets to my talk with W.S. Merwin in Maui on Feb. 10th. I am really looking forward to this afternoon devoted to forests! Maui Arts & Cultural Center