Wolverines might have a new tree to bask under - the buckeye tree.
Concerns have arisen about the buckeye tree's disappearance as a direct result of global warming, and its shift north to cooler climates.
Save the Buckeye, a recent initiative appearing at tailgates and congressional meetings, formed out of several organizations with the primary goal to spread the word about global warming concerns and the buckeye tree's slowed growth.
PEW Environment Group, Audubon Ohio, the Ohio Farmers' Union, League of Ohio Sportsmen, Ohio Environmental Council, the American Lung Association, the National Wildlife Federation and the Izaak Walton League came together to raise awareness of Ohioans' fossil-fuel guzzling habits.
On Friday, Tom Bullock, Ohio representative for the PEW Environment Group, spoke to graduate students about the environmental implications of fossil-fuel dependency.
"Save the Buckeye is a conversation-starter," Bullock said, "This is one strange little thing on a long list of strange results that can happen if we don't start acting now to curb global warming."
According to statistics from the Ohio Division of Forestry, in 1991 there were 33 million buckeye trees in Ohio of at least one inch in size, and in 2006 the number jumped to 55 million. The number is up, but considering the biology of plant reproduction and recent temperature trends, it should be even higher.
There are several other trees that are also threatened across the state, according to a recent study. A measurable loss like this could be just the tip of the iceberg - with a chain of events starting at water level decrease in Lake Erie that could lead to obstacles for businesses.
Jerry Tinianow, executive director of Audubon Ohio, points to Ohio's climate change and hydrologic balance shifts. The hydrologic cycle, which is the cycle of water, depends heavily on temperature. Tinianow said that because of warmer temperatures, the air can hold more water, leading to more evaporation out of Lake Erie and other local water systems.
"There will be significant changes. But what does it mean for me, many will ask," Tinianow said. "Lower lake water levels, spending a ton more money to relocate these facilities on lake shores, less tax money in the economy since it will be used to fix all of these other things."
If the trend continues, businesses will have to extend docking systems to accommodate the changes, as well as alter their shipping methods, potentially costing millions of dollars. Decreased water level and warmer temperatures could also lead to less lake-freezing, affecting the fishing industry and sportsmen.
Both Tinianow and Bullock said the solution to curb global warming effects has to be small choices made over time - from riding a bike to switching to environmentally-friendly light bulbs.
"Replacing light bulbs can save on electricity," Tinianow said, "You can say we did that for global warming, but the fact of the matter is that those new light bulbs will pay for themselves long before they've worn out, heat up the office less and only use 20 percent of the power."
Global warming is no longer debatable and actions to address it should be taken now, Bullock said.
"Global warming isn't just for polar bears on the ice cap," Bullock said. "But it's affecting Ohioans now. It isn't far away, it's hitting very close to home."
Amy Hoover can be reached at hoover.226@osu.edu.
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