Buy Bamboo!

Did you know that bamboo is a sustainable alternative to plastic? As a member of the grass family, it grows incredibly fast and doesn't require the use of pesticides or herbicides.

You can buy bamboo toothbrushes, hair brushes, clothing, straws, plates, silverware - the opportunities are endless. Read about why it's a good alternative and more plastic-to-bamboo switches you can make here! If you are interested in purchasing a bamboo alternative, try and buy it from a dedicated zero-waste shop to avoid unnecessary plastic packaging and/or shipping materials. (want to recycle your old toothbrush or toothpaste container? An interesting store in Woodstock offers a recycling program for those items. We are willing to take your items there! Just bring them to the Bard Office of Sustainability 9-5 weekdays!

Advocate for forest protection!

Forests are important for many reasons - they act as a carbon sink, produce oxygen, support biodiversity, provide food and materials, and serve as a form of ecotourism. Read more about the importance of forests in regards to climate change here.

Get in touch with your local congressperson or representative to advocate for public policies that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws. Not sure who to contact? Find out here. Not sure what to write? Check out this template to get started!

The town of Red hook currently has a moratorium on timber harvesting as they work out how to adjust the code to protect forests.

Choose Better Wood Products!

Did you know there's a certification for better wood products? Certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) products. FSC products work to promote global forest management sustainability, ensuring equitable access to FSC benefits, ensuring a transparent FSC system, and creating a market for FSC certified products.

Click here to find out what certified wood means for our planet's forests (environment), our society, and our economy. Check out this link to learn more about what these products are and where you can buy them.

Learn about TEMPERATE forests!

Did you know that forest ecosystems provide ecosystem benefits, or benefits to humans that directly or indirectly affect our wellbeing. Learn more about ecosystem services here.

Specifically, forest ecosystems provide us with:

• Water filtration
• Air quality
• Erosion prevention
• Biodiversity preservation
• Flood control services
• Economic benefits
• Carbon sinks

Read more about the benefits and importance of temperate forests here!

Restore Wetlands!

New York state has both tidal wetlands along the banks of the Hudson River, as well as inland freshwater wetlands. These wetlands provide ecosystems services that are extremely important to our communities, including flood and storm water control, surface water protection, erosion control, water quality benefits, wildlife habitat, and public enjoyment. You can read more about the importance of our wetlands here.

See what the DEC is doing to restore local wetlands, and look for opportunities to get involved here.

Can't make it out to volunteer? Consider donating to Trees for Tribs, a NY organization that is working to reforest riparian areas, here! Trees for Tribs has planted over 100,000 trees so far!

Local Perennial biomass!

What is perennial biomass? Biomass is when plant material is used instead of fossil fuels to create energy. Typically when one thinks of biomass it typically comes from an annual plant, which completes its lifecycle in one year and then die. Examples of annual plants include corn and soybeans. Perennial plants, such as most grasses, complete multiple reproduction cycles over the years without dying, and are a more sustainable option for biomass use. Read more about woody perennial biomass here.

Check out these links to read about the work Cornell University is doing with perennial biomass.

Support indigenous people's land management!

One great way to support indigenous people's land management is by donating to the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy works with local indigenous people to protect their lands. They also help to maintain indigenous people's land tenure and resource rights, support improved governance and local institutions, assist in natural resource mapping, planning & management, and strengthen livelihoods and sustainable economic development. Read more about the work they do here.

Learn about local indigenous practices!

Indigenous land management practices sometimes vary from what we think of as "conventional" land use practices. Read more about how indigenous practices can help to prevent deforestation here.

** Add in local opportunity to attend a public presentation?**

Plant trees!

What is afforestation? It's when land is converted into forests, especially where trees currently are not present. Adding more trees helps to create a larger carbon sink, drawing down and storing more carbon from out atmosphere.

If you are able to plant seedling or saplings in your own back yard, great! If not, consider volunteering at with/at X, Y, or Z on any of their scheduled tree planting days. Can't make it out to plant a tree? Donate to support tree plantings in the state of New York! A $20 donation can suppot 40 bareroot trees or shrubs.