Tree-planting campaign targets American and Ukrainian forests (03/31/96)

Tree-planting campaign targets American and Ukrainian forests

WASHINGTON - The 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster falls on April 26, which is National Arbor Day in the United States. In a fitting tribute, American Forests and the Chornobyl Committee of Washington are launching a campaign to plant trees in Ukraine and in a memorial forest in the U.S.

"We invite individuals everywhere to join in support of these plantings, which are intended to give hope to the hundreds of thousands of people still bearing the burden of one of the worst human and environmental disasters ever," said Barry Cullen, executive vice-president of American Forests.

The number of trees planted will depend on the success of the campaign, which gets under way with the March 29 dedication of the first trees planted at the U S. site northwest of Orlando, Fla. One tree will be planted for every dollar donated. Donations will be evenly divided between the Ukrainian and U.S. projects. A $20 contribution plants 10 trees in Ukraine and 10 in the U.S. memorial forest.

Before the April 26, 1986, Chornobyl explosion, the Ukrainian region of Polissia was an area famed for its old forests rich with medicinal plants and wildlife. Nuclear fallout killed or polluted more than 10 million acres of forest. The plantings in Ukraine will provide a living symbol of hope for the future in the Kyiv, Chemihiv and Poltava regions, where many of the victims of Chornobyl were relocated. Selection and implementation of specific sites for Ukrainian plantings will be done by the National Ecological Center of Ukraine, American Forests' Global ReLeaf partner.

The U.S. project will restore a native longleaf pine forest in Florida's Ocklawaha Prairie Conservation Area located 45 miles northwest of Orlando.

At one time, longleaf pine sandhill ecosystems flourished throughout the Southeast United States, but today less than 3 percent remain. According to Steve Miller, the land management coordinator for the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Ocklawaha Prairie site, cleared and converted to agriculture in the past, is ideal for restoration. Early this year 157,000 trees were planted at the 314-acre site.

The Chornobyl memorial will be the seventh Global ReLeaf forest restoration project sponsored by American Forests in Florida. More than 50 others have been planted in 31 other states. American Forests, based in Washington and founded in 1875, is the national conservation organization for trees and forests.

In a companion effort, Global ReLeaf International is selling notecards featuring pen-and-ink drawings of tree seeds by the late famed Ukrainian American artist Jacques Hnizdovsky. Each $10 purchase of 12 note cards results in the planning of two trees - one in the memorial grove in Florida, the other in Ukraine and supports the creation of an "Album of Memories" based on survivors' photographs, documents and narrations.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Chornobyl Tree Plantings should be sent to: American Forests, Global ReLeaf International-Chornobyl, P.O. Box 2000, Washington DC 20013. Credit card donations ($20 minimum) may be made by phone to (202) 667-3300, ext. 200. The Hnizdovsky notecards may also be ordered at that phone number.

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