COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)--The fight is on in Ohio to save the buckeye tree
from heading north to, of all places, Michigan.
Some environmentalists say global warming threatens to push the
growing range for the iconic Ohio buckeye farther north.
Although found in other parts of the Midwest, the buckeye is the
official state tree of Ohio, and the buckeye nut provided the name
for sports teams at Ohio State University.
A coalition of activists called Save The Buckeye has a billboard
in Columbus warning about the fate of the buckeye tree, and backers
plan to hold rallies during football tailgating events.
David Lytle, chief of the Division of Forestry in the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources, says the campaign has merit
because it calls attention to important ecological issues.
He says healthy adult trees can tolerate a wide climate range,
although seedlings are more sensitive. Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan could eventually give buckeye trees a more comfortable
habitat.
Football fans may not want to hear this, but Michigan already
has some buckeye trees.
Donald R. Zak, an ecology professor at the University of
Michigan, says it's not unusual to find a buckeye tree in southern
Michigan, where the climate and soil is like that in northern Ohio.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "Your2Cents” comment.
TextCaster alerts from Indiana's NewsCenter are your defining source for instant information delivered right to your cell phone and email. It's free, easy and instant. Sign-Up Now!
Powered by Summit City Chevrolet
© Copyright 2011 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Textcaster
Facebook
Twitter