January / February 2024 Insights

Meet Our Team JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

W

Ernesto Sanchez Andrade,

Save the Date!

Reforestation Program Specialist, International What do you love about your work at the Arbor Day Foundation?

In my role, I have the chance to interact with planting organizations around the world. We pursue partnerships that allow us to convey hope and means for restoration actions for international communities, forests, and ecosystems. As a father of four, my work feels aligned with the pursuit of a healthier world for their future.

How did you develop a connection with trees?

Back home in Mexico City, when my parents bought the house where we grew up, there was a patio with a young ficus tree.

The tree barely pierced through the dome above it when we moved in. It kept growing, and after almost 40 years became a big, splendorous tree. My mother says that it is the tree of life of our family.

2024 Member Summit June 10-12 | Nebraska City, NE

T

his is your moment. Join fellow Oak Society members at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City for three days of learning about and celebrating trees. During the Member Summit, you will enjoy: • • • •

A deep dive into our tree planting efforts around the globe VIP access to Arbor Day Farm Relaxing accommodations at Lied Lodge Lasting connections with others who share your passion for trees

If you’re fascinated by trees and how they can help solve our world’s issues, you won’t want to miss your opportunity to participate. Watch for more details coming soon!

What is your favorite tree?

The ceiba tree. Found in southern Mexico, it represented the universe for the ancient Maya and signified a route between the underworld, the sky, and the terrestrial realm.

Plus, the tree is architecturally complex, with columnar trunks covered in thick green conical spines with robust anchoring buttresses at the bottom and a large umbrella-shaped canopy that rises above the forest canopy. Conceptually, it stands as a unifier and beholder of beliefs. I love that.

50138001

Arbor Day Foundation • 211 N. 12th St. • Lincoln, NE 68508

Feeling Stressed? Find Your Nearest Tree hat’s the prescription for good mental health? Ask any expert, and you’ll hear a consistent answer: Spend time in nature.

Over the years, research has proven that regular access to trees makes us happier and healthier. They restore our sense of calm from head to toe — improving memory and attention span, enhancing cognitive functioning, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cortisol levels.

A ‘Fascinating’ Correlation

Peter James, associate professor of population medicine and environmental health at Harvard, has studied this connection for nearly a decade. Across his research, he says one thing is clear. “Even after running these complicated statistical models, we still see an association between nature and a number of health outcomes,” he said. “I’ve studied lots of different exposures, and nature just keeps popping up as good for your health. It’s fascinating that it’s such a consistent correlation.”

Peter explains that most cities don’t significantly invest in green space because they prioritize other, more obvious needs over landscape architecture. He thinks it’s time for that to change. “For so long, we’ve thought of green space as an amenity or a perk,” he noted. “We’re trying to reframe it as a fundamental driver of health outcomes, and an essential part of thriving as human beings.”

While trees are just one part of the mental health equation, maintaining and planting more of them is a critical part of the solution. The world deserves their healing effects now more than ever.

Read the Full Story

This is a summary of a more detailed narrative. To read the full story, go to arborday.org/mentalhealth.

The power of trees, even from a distance, is impressive: Living within 100 meters of a tree reduces rates of depression.

City dwellers with access to adequate green space experience 31% less psychological distress.

For every 1% increase in green space, urban residents have a corresponding decline in stress levels.

Children who live near sufficient green space have a lower risk of developing mental health issues in adulthood.

Protected forests are ensuring a future for Cambodia’s wildlife

O

n a calm, quiet morning, you’ll hear it. The call of Indigenous group with a deep ancestral tie to the land. the southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. It’s Partly thanks to its size — it’s larger than the entire an enchanting sound that echoes across the forest country of Costa Rica — the sanctuary features — often heard as a duet with its mate. Unlike a biodiverse mix of forest habitats. “We have most primates, this gibbon adds an undulating, open, dry forests with a grassy understory almost whale-like sound to the melody of Approximately and an open canopy,” said Olly Griffin, the forest. And this call is what lures visitors Forest Carbon Technical Advisor with the out to Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Sanctuary at sunrise, just for the privilege threatened Cambodia Program. “And further east we of hearing it.

85

Like so many of the animals at the sanctuary, southern yellow-cheeked gibbons rely on trees for their survival.

species can be found here.

A diverse landscape within a protected oasis The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary stretches across nearly 300,000 hectares and is home to the Bunong, an

have more of a closed, dense, moist tropical forest like you would imagine. That variation is one of the contributing factors to why we have such high biodiversity.”

Diverse is definitely a good description. This preserved region includes nearly 1,000 different animal, plant, and fungi species. Approximately 85 threatened species can be found here, thriving among the protected tree canopy. Here are just a few of them.

Southern Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbon Scientific Name: Nomascus gabriellae Natural Range: Cambodia and Vietnam Status: Endangered These primates are rarely seen anywhere but in the treetops, and they’re known for their beautiful call. “The males and females sing a harmony or duet in the mornings — partly as pair bonding, partly as a territorial display — and it sounds incredible,” said Olly. As their name suggests, southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons have patches of yellow fur on their cheeks. Adult males are almost entirely black, other than this key trait. Adult females, however, are nearly all yellow with a black crest on their heads. These gibbons have a place on the endangered species list because of loss of habitat, hunting, and the exotic pet market.

2

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 4

© Everland, WCS - Eleanor Briggs

Meet the Rare and Wonderful Animals of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary

Black-shanked Douc

Asian Elephants

Scientific Name: Pygathrix nigripes Natural Range: Cambodia and Southern Vietnam Status: Endangered

Scientific Name: Elephas maximus Natural Range: India and Southeast Asia (though it used to be a much broader area) Status: Endangered

The black-shanked douc is a peculiar-looking monkey found almost exclusively in Cambodia, mostly within the borders of the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. “You rarely find it anywhere else, and the populations outside Keo Seima are very, very small,” said Cain Agger, Biodiversity Monitoring Technical Advisor with WCS. This is one of three species of douc langurs, and its diet comes primarily from trees: leaves, shoots, buds, seeds, flowers, and unripe fruit. It also spends most of its time among the branches. Needless to say, deforestation is threatening its existence.

The largest land animal in Asia can be found in the sanctuary, typically near a water source. “About onequarter of Cambodia’s remaining wild Asian elephant population is in Keo Seima,” Olly noted. Asian elephants are social mammals and form complex relationships within a herd. These giant herbivores primarily eat grasses, but they also enjoy the trees’ bounty of fruit, leaves, roots, twigs, shoots, and bark.

They have been known to get into crop fields and help themselves to sugar cane and cashew fruit as well.

Ruby-eyed Green Pit Viper Scientific Name: Cryptelytrops rubeus Natural Range: Eastern Cambodia and Southern Vietnam Status: Vulnerable This venomous snake was first identified as a unique species in 2011, right inside the sanctuary. Vibrant, almost neon green scales and red eyes are its boldest features.

Venomous fangs are its deadliest. “It is scary, but it is also very beautiful,” Cain said. These pit vipers are often found in dense cover near flowing water within a seasonal tropical forest habitat.

Building a sustainable future together Caring for this special place takes a lot of cooperation. The Arbor Day Foundation is proud to support the preservation of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, working together with the Cambodian government, WCS, other nonprofit organizations, and Bunong communities. And those efforts are ensuring a future for these and many more amazing animals.

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 4

3

Protected forests are ensuring a future for Cambodia’s wildlife

O

n a calm, quiet morning, you’ll hear it. The call of Indigenous group with a deep ancestral tie to the land. the southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. It’s Partly thanks to its size — it’s larger than the entire an enchanting sound that echoes across the forest country of Costa Rica — the sanctuary features — often heard as a duet with its mate. Unlike a biodiverse mix of forest habitats. “We have most primates, this gibbon adds an undulating, open, dry forests with a grassy understory almost whale-like sound to the melody of Approximately and an open canopy,” said Olly Griffin, the forest. And this call is what lures visitors Forest Carbon Technical Advisor with the out to Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Sanctuary at sunrise, just for the privilege threatened Cambodia Program. “And further east we of hearing it.

85

Like so many of the animals at the sanctuary, southern yellow-cheeked gibbons rely on trees for their survival.

species can be found here.

A diverse landscape within a protected oasis The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary stretches across nearly 300,000 hectares and is home to the Bunong, an

have more of a closed, dense, moist tropical forest like you would imagine. That variation is one of the contributing factors to why we have such high biodiversity.”

Diverse is definitely a good description. This preserved region includes nearly 1,000 different animal, plant, and fungi species. Approximately 85 threatened species can be found here, thriving among the protected tree canopy. Here are just a few of them.

Southern Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbon Scientific Name: Nomascus gabriellae Natural Range: Cambodia and Vietnam Status: Endangered These primates are rarely seen anywhere but in the treetops, and they’re known for their beautiful call. “The males and females sing a harmony or duet in the mornings — partly as pair bonding, partly as a territorial display — and it sounds incredible,” said Olly. As their name suggests, southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons have patches of yellow fur on their cheeks. Adult males are almost entirely black, other than this key trait. Adult females, however, are nearly all yellow with a black crest on their heads. These gibbons have a place on the endangered species list because of loss of habitat, hunting, and the exotic pet market.

2

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 4

© Everland, WCS - Eleanor Briggs

Meet the Rare and Wonderful Animals of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary

Black-shanked Douc

Asian Elephants

Scientific Name: Pygathrix nigripes Natural Range: Cambodia and Southern Vietnam Status: Endangered

Scientific Name: Elephas maximus Natural Range: India and Southeast Asia (though it used to be a much broader area) Status: Endangered

The black-shanked douc is a peculiar-looking monkey found almost exclusively in Cambodia, mostly within the borders of the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. “You rarely find it anywhere else, and the populations outside Keo Seima are very, very small,” said Cain Agger, Biodiversity Monitoring Technical Advisor with WCS. This is one of three species of douc langurs, and its diet comes primarily from trees: leaves, shoots, buds, seeds, flowers, and unripe fruit. It also spends most of its time among the branches. Needless to say, deforestation is threatening its existence.

The largest land animal in Asia can be found in the sanctuary, typically near a water source. “About onequarter of Cambodia’s remaining wild Asian elephant population is in Keo Seima,” Olly noted. Asian elephants are social mammals and form complex relationships within a herd. These giant herbivores primarily eat grasses, but they also enjoy the trees’ bounty of fruit, leaves, roots, twigs, shoots, and bark.

They have been known to get into crop fields and help themselves to sugar cane and cashew fruit as well.

Ruby-eyed Green Pit Viper Scientific Name: Cryptelytrops rubeus Natural Range: Eastern Cambodia and Southern Vietnam Status: Vulnerable This venomous snake was first identified as a unique species in 2011, right inside the sanctuary. Vibrant, almost neon green scales and red eyes are its boldest features.

Venomous fangs are its deadliest. “It is scary, but it is also very beautiful,” Cain said. These pit vipers are often found in dense cover near flowing water within a seasonal tropical forest habitat.

Building a sustainable future together Caring for this special place takes a lot of cooperation. The Arbor Day Foundation is proud to support the preservation of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, working together with the Cambodian government, WCS, other nonprofit organizations, and Bunong communities. And those efforts are ensuring a future for these and many more amazing animals.

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 4

3

Meet Our Team JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

W

Ernesto Sanchez Andrade,

Save the Date!

Reforestation Program Specialist, International What do you love about your work at the Arbor Day Foundation?

In my role, I have the chance to interact with planting organizations around the world. We pursue partnerships that allow us to convey hope and means for restoration actions for international communities, forests, and ecosystems. As a father of four, my work feels aligned with the pursuit of a healthier world for their future.

How did you develop a connection with trees?

Back home in Mexico City, when my parents bought the house where we grew up, there was a patio with a young ficus tree.

The tree barely pierced through the dome above it when we moved in. It kept growing, and after almost 40 years became a big, splendorous tree. My mother says that it is the tree of life of our family.

2024 Member Summit June 10-12 | Nebraska City, NE

T

his is your moment. Join fellow Oak Society members at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City for three days of learning about and celebrating trees. During the Member Summit, you will enjoy: • • • •

A deep dive into our tree planting efforts around the globe VIP access to Arbor Day Farm Relaxing accommodations at Lied Lodge Lasting connections with others who share your passion for trees

If you’re fascinated by trees and how they can help solve our world’s issues, you won’t want to miss your opportunity to participate. Watch for more details coming soon!

What is your favorite tree?

The ceiba tree. Found in southern Mexico, it represented the universe for the ancient Maya and signified a route between the underworld, the sky, and the terrestrial realm.

Plus, the tree is architecturally complex, with columnar trunks covered in thick green conical spines with robust anchoring buttresses at the bottom and a large umbrella-shaped canopy that rises above the forest canopy. Conceptually, it stands as a unifier and beholder of beliefs. I love that.

50138001

Arbor Day Foundation • 211 N. 12th St. • Lincoln, NE 68508

Feeling Stressed? Find Your Nearest Tree hat’s the prescription for good mental health? Ask any expert, and you’ll hear a consistent answer: Spend time in nature.

Over the years, research has proven that regular access to trees makes us happier and healthier. They restore our sense of calm from head to toe — improving memory and attention span, enhancing cognitive functioning, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cortisol levels.

A ‘Fascinating’ Correlation

Peter James, associate professor of population medicine and environmental health at Harvard, has studied this connection for nearly a decade. Across his research, he says one thing is clear. “Even after running these complicated statistical models, we still see an association between nature and a number of health outcomes,” he said. “I’ve studied lots of different exposures, and nature just keeps popping up as good for your health. It’s fascinating that it’s such a consistent correlation.”

Peter explains that most cities don’t significantly invest in green space because they prioritize other, more obvious needs over landscape architecture. He thinks it’s time for that to change. “For so long, we’ve thought of green space as an amenity or a perk,” he noted. “We’re trying to reframe it as a fundamental driver of health outcomes, and an essential part of thriving as human beings.”

While trees are just one part of the mental health equation, maintaining and planting more of them is a critical part of the solution. The world deserves their healing effects now more than ever.

Read the Full Story

This is a summary of a more detailed narrative. To read the full story, go to arborday.org/mentalhealth.

The power of trees, even from a distance, is impressive: Living within 100 meters of a tree reduces rates of depression.

City dwellers with access to adequate green space experience 31% less psychological distress.

For every 1% increase in green space, urban residents have a corresponding decline in stress levels.

Children who live near sufficient green space have a lower risk of developing mental health issues in adulthood.