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This is a collection of the favorite documents in Noah, Grant, and Ethan's (not on the site) Project Citizen.
When my family and I moved to Delaware, it was filled with peaceful forests, lively farmland, and relaxed marshes. Over time, a substantial amount of beautiful environment was destroyed by developments. Animals lost their cozy homes, trees were battered off their roots, and the environment became a long-lost thought. It may be wonderful to see our economy grow, but it is growing too fast and our natural resources and nature are being harshly impacted. Why is this happening? Deforestation.
Deforestation is destroying nature and natural environments to build communities, buildings, shops, and more. Delaware’s population increased by 13,000 from 2022-2023!¹ But that's not all. Every year almost 30 million people come to Delaware during the tourist season. That's more than the amount of residents in New York! That might be amazing for our economy, but for our planet, it is as bad as it gets.
So why is deforestation such a big topic when so many people see it as a way for our economy to grow? It’s a conflict because it is hurting our animals, causing pollution, and worst of all destroying natural habitats. From something as simple as less oxygen from trees to concepts as complicated as the wreckage of forests to build communities, deforestation wears many hats. As time passes, fewer and fewer citizens care about our world.
Why are we passionate about this problem? Animals are in Despair.
I need you to pause and put yourself in an animal’s shoes. Imagine you were a colorful blue jay, and you were minding your own business flapping your way back to your nest. You suddenly discover that not only is the nest gone but the entire forest that used to be your home, is now a pile of destroyed nature. You begin to wonder, what now?
Believe it or not, this reality is a pretty common reality for not only birds but all kinds of animals. Every day for survival, shelter, and business purposes citizens of the United States continue to destroy trees. Take a moment to revisit your bird you, and think about how horrible that would be. According to the reliable Global Forest Watch website, with water removed, only 29% of Delaware is forested. If you connect this number to the information researchers have collected on how crucial trees are to our survival, 29% is a pretty frightening number.
Environmentalists at Earthday.org have written about how trees provide homes to 80% of wildlife, purify the air and water, and so much more². When we cut a single tree down, that’s one less animal that finds a home and it also means you’ve made the air and water a tiny bit dirtier. Greenhouse gases are released every time a tree is cut down. The worst part is deforestation isn’t only trees.
Deforestation is so much more than land being ruthlessly annihilated. Agriculture, paper production, mining, burning, and road construction all hurts nature equally. Agriculture creation takes down forests in order to make farmland, paper production painfully demolishes leaves, mining removes healthy minerals from the ground, fires pollute the air which eventually affects trees, and road construction is pretty self-explanatory. Roads are obnoxiously placed in forests and nature every single day.
Each of these horrifying events gives rise to terrifying conflicts every day in the animal world, from nests turning into a pile of sticks to cute little koalas losing their homes and feeling lost. Deforestation puts animals in danger, and when you read the news articles about different animals going extinct, deforestation sometimes participates in the “why” section. As poet Gary Snyder once said, “Nature is not a place to visit, it is a home.” If we lose our homes, animals will too. Animals will be homeless. Animals will be in despair.
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Deforestation is devastating, and it’s a problem that cannot be stopped, but citizens of our amazing country can take steps to help lower its effect on our beautiful world. Animals are dying because of it, and we are too. Deforestation is never something to ignore, it’s something to take action on. Together, citizens of the United States can take action. Let's stand together and make a positive impact on our environment by taking action against deforestation.
Stop Deforestation!
¹Microtrends Population Growth Rate
²Earthday Tree Research
Deforestation might be a global problem that may sound impossible to solve, but by taking little steps we can reduce its impact on our environment. Following, we have listed three alternatives that can pave the “steps” in the path to solving deforestation.
The first alternative is to spread out the amount of housing and development in one area. This means that instead of killing all of the Lewes area, we could spread out the housing throughout the counties and towns. It will give both sides what they want. For the environment, it would save land from being lost. This is incredible because we need the land near and on estuaries. These estuaries provide a storm barrier for the coastal area. Destroying this area can allow storm surges to come through. Leaving this area alone and protecting it is of the utmost importance. It also is home to a species native to Maryland and Delaware the blue crab. There are tons and tons of other critical animals in Delaware that must be saved. Spreading out the development would do just that. Fewer homes near the estuaries, and spread out land loss in other areas sounds good for the environment and all of the animals and plants in our area.
But this is not one-sided for the environment. It would also give people and developers homes and money. The developers would get their money and give people homes to live in. It would also limit the traffic in one area because the housing would be so spread out. With this alternative, it would solve two problems: deforestation and Traffic flow, not to mention the number of animals that would be saved.
As a whole, this would be an amazing action to take to get closer to a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment.
The second alternative is one where a group plants forests for the future. “A single seed can turn into a forest. A single heart can transform a nation.” These words of Bryan Thao Worra are the main inspirations behind my alternative: a team of volunteers who meet once a month and plant trees in fields in Delaware. Planting trees would provide forests for the future, so no one has to worry about the loss of trees year by year. Our actions make a difference, so if we make a move towards deforestation an impact will be made.
Tentree’s “Environmentor” explains that 15 billion trees are cut down each year, and only five billion are planted in return. Those statistics support that approximately ten billion trees are lost. My alternative is a small way to decrease the amount of tree loss. Going back to the essay on the problem of deforestation, trees are homes to many animals, so ten billion trees being destroyed takes a major toll on our world’s gracious animals.
Deforestation is devastating, and it’s a problem that cannot be stopped, but citizens of our amazing country can take steps to help lower its effect on our beautiful world. You can go outside right now, and make a difference. You are a citizen of our country, and you have a voice. If you’re passionate about nature, you can tell your next-door neighbor about this right now, and they can make a difference. They can tell their best friend, and then they can make a difference. If we unite we can solve deforestation. It may be a horrible problem, but we all have voices. Voices that make a difference in nature. We have voices. So let’s use them to create forests for the future.
Finally, we have a policy we could also create to help the crisis. If you plan on making a neighborhood and you cut down trees to clear space for housing, you have to plant all of the trees that you cut down by two. For example, if you cut down 50 trees to create a neighborhood, you have to replant 100 somewhere else. This is a policy we could add to the deforestation laws of Delaware. This would help in the future and end up with more and more trees for our environment.
After all, these are our alternatives to this devastating problem.
An estuary is where salt water and fresh water meet and mix. An important example of this is a bay. You might not think that these are important because, after all, it isn't even an ocean. But you are most definitely wrong. It is one of the most important habitats for humans animals, plants, etc. For starters, it is a natural and effective storm barrier. But that's not all it also filters out harmful sediments and pollutants in rivers and streams.
The estuary also is home to thousands of different marine life species. Just a few of these species are oysters, blue crabs, and the great blue heron. Each animal is critical to our natural area, especially the oyster. You see, these small animals are much more than a delicious meal. They do various things, such as filter out the algae and provide nutrients to the water.
The last thing I want to talk about is the plants and sedimentary rocks. As you know when houses are built they need to have a base. But if the builders dig too deep when they are close to the bay, they will hit the water tables. These water tables have very valuable sediments that will become a problem if harmed. For starters, the saltwater in the ocean will start to seep into the underground fresh water. This is the water that you drink in your house. Now this saltwater intrusion is normal but it happens in very small amounts with the development of houses this process goes faster and has a larger effect.
In all, these amazing bodies of water must be protected at all costs.
“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” These were the words of John F. Kennedy. We are asking for the same thing except with a larger concept: the environment. We constantly use materials from the natural world and give back nothing in return. As our way to give back to the environment, we are making a group that plants trees and asks for more protected land.
This group will find land that legally allows tree planting and take pride in the activity. We may be young, but we know that we can make a difference. We have a passion for preventing deforestation, and we can take steps towards solving it. As trees are to deforestation, our passion is to our approach.
We are not the only ones who are passionate about deforestation. If deforestation is your passion you can take action too. You can approach the problem with a seed, and then you can leave it with a tree. We approach this problem with a growth mindset. A mindset that is confident and knows if we convince people to step outside, trees will grow. Seeds will sprout.
We have created this approach as a blueprint for forests. This blueprint has been proven to work as others have had similar ideas in the past. Its pros outweigh the cons and if executed correctly, our approach can make a major impact.
Pros
Making a volunteer group has little to no cost. (the only cost is seeds)
A volunteer group is not only a meaningful activity, but it creates bonds within the group.
Tree planting has a domino effect; if others see you making a difference they will do the same.
Tree planting is timeless, one seed lasts 30+ years.
It makes our air cleaner
Cons
Tree planting areas are extremely limited in Delaware.
This activity takes loads of research and emails.
There are many volunteer groups in Delaware and others may be more attractive than a tree-planting one.
After all, we have voices, and we can make a difference. We might be young, but we have created a blueprint for the future that shapes an approach with confidence.
We met with Russ Huxtable, a Delaware senator, and Kyle Hoyd, the head forester of Delaware, on a Zoom call to discuss deforestation in the state. This paper contains all the questions we asked them, along with the answers, and a mini reflection on what we learned.
Questions:
How important is deforestation in Delaware and Sussex County?
There is a growing concern in Sussex County and many groups are alarmed. There is data to prove that Sussex County is the only county in Delaware that is losing more acres than gaining.
How much do the citizens care about the environment around us?
Many environmental groups care, along with citizens who are affected.
Are there volunteer groups who plant trees in our local area?
Yes, many. They not only work on reforestation but afforestation too. Afforestation means planting trees where there was not a forest.
How much of an impact has deforestation made in Delaware?
A major impact. A study led by Kyle Hoyd from 2007-2022 showed that in 2007 there were 221,242 Forest Acres, then in 2022, there were 199,583 forest acres. This means 21659 acres were lost. One part of this impact is because there is low cooperation between the counties in this effort.
What is the scope of the problem? (people affected)
A large number of people are affected. Kyle Hoyd feels that Delaware needs growth restrictions to help.
What is the intensity of the problem? (how much people care)
There are environmental groups that care and citizens like us (doing this project) are those who care and can make a difference.
What is the duration of the problem? (how long has it been going on?)
Since 2004, deforestation has become more noticeable in Delaware. Kyle Hoyd stated that 2004-2008 was the biggest spike, and Russ Huxtable added that was one of the main times a lot of people moved to Delaware, having to do with the 2008 housing crisis.
Are animals being affected by deforestation?
Yes, they are. Deer vs. vehicle has been extremely major, and that has to do with the loss of trees. Russ added that Delaware has had a huge increase in the amount of deer, too!
How can citizens make a difference?
Citizens can make a difference by joining volunteer groups and changing policy. Kyle quoted that you need to “conserve land in order to reserve it” meaning that in order to manipulate land, you need to keep it. We noted that land conversion helps with deforestation.
Is overpopulation relative to deforestation in Delaware?
Yes, but it is kind of a “good thing, but not great” concept. Please analyze the photo below:
Kyle Hoyd explained the reasoning in this email: That development is good in terms of Investment levels (above video) but not so great due to groundwater recharge and impervious services (blacktop, concrete, etc.) In its current state it is a great natural filter for ground water recharge, by placing homes/business on it will reduce that natural ability of filtration. The positive thing about growth on this parcel, is that the area is already developed around it and it has infrastructure built all around it making it a good level 1-2 area from an investment standpoint which will help keep growth limited and not push it out into levels 3-4. Hope that makes sense.
What is the new DelDOT plan all about?
It turns out DelDOT has very strict forest rules and they always make sure to replant everything they destroy. It won’t be the most jawbreaking forest loss, but it will be vaguely visible.
What is happening with estuaries?
Estuaries are thriving in Delaware, but the more we build the more they are in danger. Many animals live in them so we cannot afford to lose them.
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After meeting with Kyle and Russ, we were so amazed at how much effort, research, and knowledge they put into focusing on deforestation. (research, specific) It was also interesting to see how events in Delaware like times when moving into the state spiked corresponded with land loss. The final concept that stuck out was how much Delaware cares about deforestation. There are so many environmental groups that want to flip the switch from deforestation going the wrong direction, to the right one. After all, it was a wonderful experience and they have helped so much and we are so thankful for them.
DelDOT has recently published a plan for the future in Lewes, and when analyzing it, it seems a lot of Deforestation will take place. In this article, we’ll be highlighting the most impactful parts of the plan.
The first image is credited from the “Full Corridor Display” which was released in February. When you look across the white line, you’ll see five white circles. These circles represent roundabouts being installed in those areas. Roundabouts will help the flow of traffic across Kings Highway. All across the white line, trees are being destroyed, but reforestation is happening in the middle of the road. There will be a middle section separating the road.
This next picture zooms in on the area where Kings Highway has two turns, one into Gills Neck Road and one into the High School. One can argue that this is the busiest part of the street and the roundabout will be most effective here. In the future, all the farmland in the bottom left hand corner will be turned into a community place. In this image, it is easier to see the trees installed in the middle of the street.
This next image zooms in on the specific change on the road. Paths will be installed, and that will destroy a crucial amount of trees. But the ones being planted in the middle will provide natural shade, which goes on to protect the road. This also is safer for the cars.
These images were taken from DelDot’s YouTube channel. Some show transitions and “then to now” changes that will be made. What do you think of this plan?
This essay is all about possibilities. Possibilities are equivalent to the root of trees they grow and become reality. We have composed three possibilities of results that could happen in the future of the three alternatives that we presented.
Outcome #1: Houses Spread Out
When the houses spread out new life can grow in places where houses were.
Estuaries will continue to thrive and the water table will remain healthy.
More space for recreational activities will form.
Animals continue to thrive and have time to move away from their homes to another safe place near their original home.
Outcome #2: Forests for the Future
Over time these trees would grow tall providing shade and fresh air around the area.
The ground would be filled with nutrients providing great ground for crops.
Outcome #3: More Trees Are in Delaware
There will be more trees than there were.
More animals will reside in forests in Delaware.
All in all, these are just a few of the many great outcomes of taking action against deforestation.
As I look back on our work on this project, I wonder: did we make an impact? The immediate answer that comes to my mind is yes, but I wanted to think further. I wanted to reflect on how we made an impact, how we stepped into this project one way and left it another. I remember when we were writing the introduction to the problem and we wrote these words: “We came into this project knowing that multi-millionaire companies and our local government would not take us seriously.” We decided we would cut that part out because we knew that they would. And we weren’t wrong. While talking with Russ Huxtable and Kyle Hoyd, we realized that they knew that we wanted to make a difference and weren’t just doing this for school. They knew we had a passion, and this passion has taken us a long way.
On the first day of school, we were all overjoyed to have each other in the same social studies class. We had all been friends before in 6th grade and knew it would be fun to have this class together. When our amazing teacher, Mr Blelie, “teased” what Project Citizen would be all about, I remember us turning to each other and signaling that we would need to be in the same group. Grant said, “Noah you're good at writing, and I have lots of ideas and so do you. Ethan is smart and will be perfect at finding graphs and finding creative ideas.” Once the day finally came when Mr Blelie said we were beginning, he also noted that groups should be 5-6 people. We had 3. We asked him if it would be fine and he said yes. And if he said no, I don’t know where we would be!
When we began working on it each Friday, we quickly decided on Deforestation and got right to work. We began organizing our ideas and getting everything down. The rest was history from there. Once some of the research and essays were done, we sent out a form. In 24 hours, we got 30 amazing responses. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones who cared so deeply about deforestation.
We continued working, and as we edged close to election day we were getting a lot done. We emailed Russ Huxtable and planned a meeting to speak about deforestation. And he quickly responded by forwarding his assistants Brandon Williams and Kyle Hoyd, who were extremely helpful. Kyle was the head forester of Delaware and he had so much knowledge on this topic. During the Zoom call, he explained so much data and research to us. I’m not sure we would have got anywhere with this project without him. Russ Huxtable also added so much helpful information, like a bill he signed, how much citizens care about deforestation, additional animal information, and so much more. Everyone in the meeting was so informal and our group is so thankful we got to meet with them.
We continued to work, and then we began building. When watching this all form together, I feel that we did something really extraordinary. We had a passion for deforestation and we took it and ran with it. Through this amazing experience, We’ve learned so much about the world. We knew that we had what it took to use this problem as a chance to make an impact, and now that I think about it, it’s not even debatable. It’s not even a contest at all. Our effort was so impactful, and that led me to my final statement in this reflection. When thinking about the question, did we really make a difference? The answer is obvious. We made more than a difference. We paved a path and planted a seed for the future of the environment.
Steps are the stairway to success, and every smart solution is organized with them. Our plan to help solve deforestation uses them, and these steps are not only the ones we plan to take, but we want you to take them too. The steps are well thought out and have been scientifically proven effective in the long run. It’s why trees are awesome, one action today, still benefits us a century later.
Always Research First. Find your local zoning laws!
The AI definition of zoning laws is regulations that govern how land can be used in specific areas. If it is illegal or forbidden to plant trees in an area, there is obviously a reason that explains why. Also according to AI, you may not be able to plant a tree in an area because of inappropriate soil conditions for tree growth, potential damage to infrastructure from tree roots, the risk of invasive species spreading, concerns about disrupting existing ecosystems, proximity to power lines, and local regulations restricting planting in certain areas. Zoning laws mainly focus on the last reason of local regulations, but every one of these matters immensely. If you do not follow these rules you could be faced with punishment. But there are ways around these rules and there are places where tree planting is legal, one of the best places is on your property. Every tree matters.
Organize A Group! We have all the resources needed.
Our group has organized a mini HQ on Google Sites where we have been posting resources that will help you kick start and organize tree planting groups. Find that site @ https://sites.google.com/view/futureforestshq/. The site provides multiple pages with videos, guidance, forms, and research to help you. We are still working on adding forms and documents, but the site provides excellent information to help with your grand take-off. Also, look to the side of this paper, above it, and throughout this presentation- there are resources everywhere! We want to make a difference, so we have done as much as we can to help others.
Plant, Plant, Plant! Buy tree pots from stores or start fresh with a seed.
On our HQ, in Resource #3 you can find a video on how to plant trees. This video has been specifically picked out because we feel it is the strongest and most helpful resource we could find. We have two videos, one from Lowes about starting with a pot and one from a harvester about starting with a seed. When you go out with your group, I recommend using pots instead of seeds. There is a third video that shows a tree planting group project entitled Team Trees.
Encourage Your Neighbors. They can plant trees in their yard!
You may think this is an unnecessary step, but spreading the act is crucial! When one sees someone do a good deed, they follow, and then someone else sees that person do I good deed, and they follow- this pattern goes on and on in a “domino effect” so make sure to tell others about your passion for tree planting! Some people find it more fun than others to maintain taking care of a tree, but either way, it helps the world!
Accomplish “Tree” Goals: plant trees, build bonds, and spread the act!
The final step is to accomplish “tree” goals: plant trees, build bonds, and spread the act. The first goal is to plant trees, which is pretty self-explanatory. Tree planting is the root (another pun!) for solving this problem, so it has to be one of the main goals. The second goal is building bonds because, in the activity of tree planting, you bond with the people around you. Making friends and building bonds will help increase the popularity of the activity. Finally, spread the act! Just like in step four, one of our ultimate goals is to create a domino effect on tree planting. When you tell your friends, and then they tell their friends, it goes on and on!
After all, we hope these steps help you in your endeavor to solve tree planting. These fantastic steps lead to our desired outcomes!
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