Cypress Mulch Problems

I have posted this note from the WaterKeeper Organization (they’ve targeted garden writers and you’ll see it posted all over the Net on different garden blogs/sites in the next few weeks). I have also asked the Louisiana Forestry Assoc and their Secondary Producers Trade Association for comments and responses. If they respond, I’ll post their notes on this blog as well.

I note the link given no longer works. Mother Jones magazine url has been taken over by Network Solutions and everything you’re going to see there is an ad-link if the name Network Solutions is anywhere on the page. I have no idea why this is happening (perhaps Mother Jones didn’t pay their registration fee and Network Solutions has taken the address back) but I’m sure we’ll hear back from these folks. (Update: The link is once again working)

In the meantime, you can visit waterkeeper.org for updates I’m sure.

I did read the article immediately after I got the note (about an hour before the link disappeared) and it does sound as if a broad coalition of environmental groups agree that harvesting these trees the way it is being done is really going to have a negative impact on the environment. That region of the continent is still recovering from a series of hurricanes (I wintered there this year) and really doesn’t need any more environmental damage than it has already inflicted on itself or has received from Mother Nature.

Your small step and thing you can do is not purchase cypress mulch this year. And tell all your friends the same thing. If you see it in a store, tell the manager about this problem and tell him/her that you’re not buying any (and why). It’s a really small thing to do – there are ecologically sound alternatives – and enough folks don’t buy this mulch, these important trees will be saved.

(note begins below)
This week Mother Jones magazine released the article Mulch Madness about Atchafalaya Basinkeeper Dean Wilson’s efforts to stop the illegal and unsustainable cutting of cypress for cheap mulch. Right now the cypress mulch industry is destroying wetlands that protect coastal Louisiana from hurricanes. The article is online at:

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/03/louisianas-mulch-madness.html

Waterkeeper has been working with Dean and organizations across the Gulf Coast to save our cypress forests. We’ve made great progress. In June 2007, more than 200 Louisiana cities, universities, churches and other organizations pledged to stop using cypress mulch. Month later, Wal-Mart and Lowes announced they would stop or limit buying and selling cypress mulch from Louisiana. This is a great start but the threat remains. We have a long way to go to stop the mulching of the nation’s coastal wetland forests.

Our gardeners hold the key. We believe that gardeners must know the truth about cypress mulch, and will stop using cypress mulch when presented with the facts.

Again, thank you for your help spreading the word: Say NO to Cypress Mulch. I am also happy to provide more information for you.

Bana Malik

(end note)
photo credit: edwardleger