WASHINGTON, Oct 24, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni flying in from around the country to attend the October 25 homecoming game probably do not know that the Badgers' homecoming game against the University of Illinois this Saturday has been designated a "carbon-neutral" game.
UW Athletic department announced it will offset the carbon emission impact of this weekend's homecoming game by planting 20 acres of trees on property certified as a Tree Farm in Wisconsin.
The game, the first of its kind in the Big Ten and one of the first in the nation, will offer a chance to raise awareness of environmental issues, such as the damaging effects of carbon dioxide and the benefits of conservation and recycling. The event will also provide information on ways fans can take action in their daily lives to become more environmentally aware.
The 220-acre Tree Farm, located 12 miles east of Madison, is owned by Joe Arington. The property is in its first decade and first generation of a 100 year plan that is meant to produce a variety of sustainable agriculture and silviculture products. Being in its first generation, Arington Tree Farm offers a unique blend of forest and wildlife habitat, from seedlings to mature bur oaks, from marsh to mature hardwood stands.
The fact that the property is a certified property by the nation's oldest and largest forest conservation program in the United States, the American Tree Farm System(R), will ensure that the carbon benefits of the trade last.
Approximately 4,000 seedlings obtained through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are being planted on a four-acre site at Arington's Tree Farm with another 16 acres planted with thousands of oak and walnut trees, with the seed provided by Arington.
"Every game day, a crowd larger than many Wisconsin cities gathers at Camp Randall Stadium to watch Badger football," says associate athletic director Vince Sweeney. "It's important for us to be environmentally conscious in what we do and to spread the word about how everyday actions can lead to a cleaner environment." He also hopes that this will help others to do the same.
Carbon trading for football games is a relatively new phenomenon. The University of Georgia and Florida State have also engaged in this environmentally friendly program.
The UW-Madison project has two aims: to offset carbon dioxide emissions generated directly by activities surrounding the game, and to make a continuing investment in a healthy environment by planting trees. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. So planting trees or preserving forests helps offset the carbon dioxide produced by all the other things we do that consume energy.
The university will work with the nonprofit Delta Institute Carbon Offset Program, and credits will be purchased on the Chicago Climate Exchange to offset those emissions. When credits are purchased on the exchange, the money is invested in other projects that offset emissions by a corresponding amount.
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) conservation and education organization that strives to ensure the sustainability of America's family forests for present and future generations. Our vision is to create a future where North American forests are sustained by the public, which understands and values the social, economic, and environmental benefits they provide to our communities, our nation, and our world.
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