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The article presents information on the National Register of Big Tree program for discovering big trees. It provides the details of the biggest known trees and can rarely claim absolute knowledge of the absolute ruler of a given species. For the first several decades it was essentially left to nominators to choose which trees needed a champion. Most were native or naturalized species but quite a few ornamentals and hybrids were crowned. In 1980, the American Forests began to print a list of Species Without Champs in each installment of the register. The species they represented--American snowbell, Georgia holly, and Florida crossopetalum--infrequently attain the stature of trees. Later, after a number of twiggy things were crowned, it was decided that a specimen should meet accepted standards for being a tree. In the 1990s the philosophy was that any specimen, no matter how small, could be the champion if was the biggest one reported at that time. Out of 94 currently empty thrones, 57 species have never had a true champion, and 48 have never even had a nominee.

The article presents information on the changes made in the National Register of Big Trees program introduced in the U.S. Although 65 years of big tree hunters and state coordinators have helped in shaping the program over the years, the mission and message have remained constant: to protect the U.S.'s big trees and recognize the values that trees and forests provide. The program encourages people to join in celebrating the importance and value of trees by discovering new champs, helping maintain those trees that have been nominated in the past, and planting future champions. The program is sponsored by the Davey Tree Expert Co. The program began in the fall of 2004 and has helped in assessing and updating measurement standards and show the value of big trees on the Web. Texas's 489-point behemoth, near Fort Davis, has reigned as national champion tree since 1976. The Lone Star State stands out for its number of champs. It boasts a total of 78, making it fourth in line for bragging rights, surpassed only by Florida, California, and Arizona. The Rio Grande is one of two national champion cottonwoods in Texas.

Focuses on the tree planting initiatives of four organizations in the United States. Sammamish Watershed Forum's project at four sites along the Sammamish River in Washington State; Establishment of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Alamo, Texas; Pennsylvania Forestry Association's partnership with Global ReLeaf.

Provides information on the 1997 Global ReLeaf Forests Projects in the United States. King Range Conservation Area project in California; Black Ridge Fire Site in Colorado; Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve in Florida; More.

The article presents information related to the organization, American Forests, and the initiatives launched by it in 2007. With the threat of climate change looming, this very real danger became a major news story, and American Forests launched Global ReLeaf2. The campaign recognized the urgent need for millions more trees to offset the warming of the planet, with a goal of planting 100 million trees by 2020. That goal will be helped by two large donations received in 2007. It is reported that Forest Policy Center of the organization worked in many capacities in 2007, most notably to lending its expertise to Farm Bill, wildfire, and climate change bills in the U.S. House and Senate.

The article presents information on the tree planting program eTree started by the journal "American Forests." The journal is the largest stock transfer agent, to plant trees while reducing paper consumption through e-delivery of shareholder materials. ETree, the Computershare program contributes to environmental health by reducing costs associated with printing and mailing shareholder materials. Companies' shareholders that register for the eTree program receives shareholder materials via e-mail. To date, more than 1.2 million trees have been planted in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Australia through the eTree program, and more than 500,000 shareholders have agreed to receive shareholder materials online. The goal of eTree is to plant an additional 500,000 trees by the end of 2006.

Presents news important for members of the American Forests organization as of September 2001. Warning of Dennis Pendleton, Forest Service director of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, about the threat of wildfire; Donations to Add a dollar, Plant a tree project of Eddie Bauer store chain; Estimated number of trees distributed to residents of Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Presents information on tree planting projects at Global ReLeaf Forest sites in North America. Estimated number of trees to be planted; Restoration of damaged forest ecosystems.

The article reports on the announcement of the American Forests and Scotties Facial Tissues regarding the Trees Rock Video contest. The program aims to educate elementary students, schools and PTA groups regarding the importance forests and trees to people. The students are encouraged to participate in the contest which deadline will be on October 1-November 30, 2012.

The article focuses on the week-long trip of Jami Westerhold, strategic initiatives director, to the Greater Yeloowstone Area to start working on the American Forests' Endangered Western Forests initiative. The initiative addresses a combination of threats that put the health of western high-elevation forests in danger. The American Forests partners with several local scientific experts to coordinate and utilize research to support the development of management and restoration techniques.

The article reports on the initiative of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in declaring 2011 is the International Year of Forests. It mentions that the initiative provides opportunity in raising awareness on the challenges faced by the forests and the people who depend on them. Moreover, the International Year of Forests is a global event, in which communication and outreach activities are planned including competitions in photo, art, and essay.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including one on the planting project proposed by the American Forests to restore a forest ecosystem that has been damaged, another on a call for restoring forests as a means to restore ecology of wetlands, and also on the support handed for the stimulus plan that affect the forest policy.

The article reports that various studies aimed at monitoring three million trees are being conducted on a global scale. These studies are influenced by the efforts of geologists Robin Foster and Stephen P. Hubbell who began a project to map and measure each tree Barro Colorado Island, Panama, every five years. It is reported that mapping trees will help scientists make more accurate predictions regarding the effects of climate and other ecological changes on the forest. A study conducted during drought revealed that two tree species in particular declined in number much faster than expected.

The article presents information on a tree planting project started by the journal "American Forests," in coordination with the group Trees for Houston. The money to build these homes came from a personal donation by television personality Oprah Winfrey. Using some of the donations made to her public charity, Oprah's Angel Network, the journal was able to plant three large trees around each home. The special subdivision will be home to 65 families displaced in 2005 when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, killing people, destroying homes, and uprooting trees. The storms also uprooted the sense of community that familiar surroundings, like trees provide.

The article focuses on the Formosan subterranean termite threat to trees in the U.S. These particular termites are found in the southern Gulf Coast states, southern California, and Hawaii, where it is the state's premier pest. In New Orleans, the termites infest an estimated 20 to 25 percent of the city's trees. Often it takes a natural disaster, to allow officials to understand the amount of internal damage the Formosan termites have inflicted on trees, consuming large amounts of their heartwood and weakening their structural integrity. Federal programs such as Operation Full Stop in New Orleans are attempting to develop area-wide management programs for the termites, but legal and legislative measures are needed. State and local officials need to develop strategies now to assess their urban and native forests for the termites and those states already infested need to consider increasing the amount of money they spend for policy and research. There are currently no remediation or containment policies for the removal and disposal of trees infested with Formosan subterranean termites.

The article presents information on awards given to persons involved in forest conservation projects in the U.S. Charles Burditt, president of Burditt Consultants, is the 2005 winner of the prestigious Laurence C. Walker Distinguished Service to Forestry Award. George Frame, a member of Tree Farm Committee is the recipient of the American Tree Farm System's 2006 National Field Leadership Award. Artist and Life member Bob Timber-lake was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by North Carolina governor Mike Easley.

Presents information on the benefits of the Fiscal Year 2005 funding proposals for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to the implementation of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). Arguments raised against the proposals; Budget for the Healthy Forests Initiatives and the HFRA authorized by the Congress; Significance of collaborative processes to implement environmental programs.

Provides information on the national tree-planting fund created by the Wildlife ReLeaf program of "American Forests" magazine in the U.S. Purpose of the fund; Additional activities of the program; Contributors to the program.

Reports that both the federal forestry programs and the 2002 Farm Bill hold prospects for United States funding and legislative priorities on which the American Forests organization and many community partners are focusing. Marks for the American Forests' program priorities; Funding intended for wildfire management; Various ideas that the American Forests is exploring.

Commends the decision of Earthbound Farm company to plant tress in order to slow down global climate change. Details on the project of the company.

Focuses on the hardwood tress planting program sponsored by Triangle Pacific Flooring Group with Global ReLeaf International. Benefits of planting trees.

Focuses on two opportunities for those looking to put trees in the ground in the United States. `American Forests' magazine's acceptance of grant applications for the Global ReLeaf Forests program; Partnership between the `American Forests' and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay; Tree planting along streamsides in Pennsylvania.

Provides information on Flathead Forestry Project in Washington for refocusing and bringing people together for stewardship. Changes made to the United States federal law and regulations to make community-based forest stewardship works.

Provides information on American Forests organization formed by concerned citizens to manage and protect United States' forest resources. How the organization functions; Main components of the community-based forestry program of American Forests.

Discusses the works of Wilderness Society in supporting land-management issues and community-based projects. Implication of the partnership of Wilderness with the community; Features of the community-based efforts addressing management issues on United States public lands.

Reports on Boise Cascade Corp.'s allocation of an estimated $8 million on three ecosystem management and biodiversity study projects to learn more about effective management of forested lands. Assistance from an advisory group to direct the project; Northwest watershed study.

Reports on American forests and Harrison State forest supporters' celebration of the planting of the final tree on the 160-acre Global Releaf Heritage forest. Guests; Project sponsors.