Reforest the Earth: Planting Old Growth Trees in Fight Against Climate Change

EcoJustice Radio discusses with David Milarch of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive why planting old growth trees like sequoias and redwoods is an important solution to climate change and ecosystem health.

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Sacred Giants: The Urgency of Planting Old Growth Trees

Many witnessed the unprecedented loss of ancient Giant Sequoia groves in the Castle Fire in Sierra Nevada, California, the only natural habitat for Sequoias on Earth. They are the world’s largest trees, spanning up to 36 feet in diameter and more than 250 feet in height. And they have been known to live for 3,400 years. Unfortunately, the wildfire damage was so severe, experts estimated, that almost a fifth of the planet’s sequoias died or suffered terminal burns during the blazes. Another old growth giant, Coastal Redwoods, were also impacted by lightning-induced fires. We must act fast to reforest our wild spaces and protect our imperiled old-growth forests.

STORY: Trees Please: Saving and Serving the Urban Forest

Planting the Legacy of Old Growth Trees

The Biden Administration has taken action, with an executive order aimed at protecting forests, especially old-growth. Among other things, the order directs a forest inventory to identify the threats to these trees along with ways to better safeguard them. The order also sets targets for reforesting federal lands by 2030 and helping curb deforestation around the world.

Unfortunately, the order stops short at outright banning the logging of old-growth forests on federal lands. Thus, robust reforestation is all the more necessary.

STORY: Yosemite: An Ecosystem Nourished By Wildfire

Our guest, David Milarch, Co-Founder of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive and Champion Tree Project expounds upon why reforestation with ancient species like sequoias and redwoods is an important solution to climate change and ecosystem health, and provides inspiration for future generations.

David Milarch, of @ArchangelTrees on why reforestation is important for climate change and ecosystem health. He is dedicated to propagating old growth trees, preserving their genetics, and reforesting their living legacies worldwide. Listen and subscribehttps://t.co/dqLgW5c8Ta pic.twitter.com/qN5GoGadtZ

— EcoJusticeRadio (@EcoJusticeRadio) August 13, 2021

David Milarch is a fourth generation Nurseryman with over 40 years of experience in growing and supplying landscape trees for resale for the national market in Northern Michigan. David and his sons co-founded Archangel Ancient Tree Archive in 2007. The project is dedicated to leading society towards sustainability by propagating ancient, old growth trees, archiving and preserving their genetics, and reforesting their living legacies worldwide. aiming to restore our arboricultural heritage.

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Executive Producer: Jack Eidt
Interview by Carry Kim
Intro by Jessica Aldridge
Engineer: Blake Lampkin
Show Created by Mark and JP Morris
Music: Javier Kadry
Episode 110
Image: Archangel Ancient Tree Archive

Updated 1 March 2023