Each passing Christmas season seems to open the great debate with Canadians regarding our values surrounding real versus artificial trees for the holiday season. But as I pass the curbs and countrysides this year I hear the news that in 2014 Canadians spent more money on fake (artificial) trees than on real ones (Ottawa Citizen, 2014). Are there hidden values of trees and where do you stand? And what about all that fuss with Christmas trees and greenhouse gases?
Your leaves are so unchanging, Oh Christmas Tree…
For me, growing up on a farm it was always a great tradition to choose, and cut a real tree each year for the holiday season. And of course with each new tree each year, brought new challenges – whether it be a spruce, a pine, or the ever so popular “Charlie Brown” style tree we had for a few years. One year we were blessed with what my dad called a “hybrid” tree. As our chosen tree was was missing a few branches here and there, he simply drilled and inserted a few pine branches filling the empty spots of chosen spruce tree – giving a new meaning to the word “hybrid” i guess. But regardless of the type, size, height or origin, where do you stand?
Economics and Value of Trees
For the first time ever in Canadian history the “value of imported artificial trees now exceeds that of fresh cut Christmas trees grown on Canadian soils (Ottawa Citizen, 2014). The Ottawa Citizen article also noted,
“Statistics Canada figures show that —Domestic Christmas tree growers brought in $55.2 million in 2013, according to Statscan, but the value of their crop was surpassed by that of artificial imports, which generated $56.2 million for foreign manufacturers. The vast majority of those fake Christmas trees came from China.”
Where do you stand – did you consider environmental, social, and economics with your holiday choice this year?
Trees and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Research supports that real Christmas trees are actually absorbing methane, a greenhouse gas that they were once accused of emitting (Sundqvist, 2012). Meaning they are not just festive but they too do help the environment.
The interesting part is methane’s exchange with plants, and in this case – the Christmas tree. Methane as a greenhouse gas as we all know, and generally speaking a gas that does not linger in the atmosphere too long, but has a real potential for damage when compared to carbon dioxide.
Which brings me to the big challenge, if so-called Christmas trees are methane eating machines, should we be cutting them down?
Socially I always agree with the slogan “real is better than artificial,” but I now tend to ask where your tree comes from? This year in Ottawa I noticed a small sign shadowing the street selling trees. It read, “Christmas Trees 4 Sale” with much smaller letters written From Nova Scotia! All the way from Nova Scotia – where might this stand on curbing emissions for real versus artificial, perhaps a few added CO2 emissions added for these ones?
Has your tree gone to the goats?
And some final food 4R thought – If you are one of the lucky ones dragging your real tree to the curb, consider the following if recycling is an option in your area. Here’s a short video clip showcasing goats at a wildlife centre finding a new love for our ole Canadian Christmas trees.
Donate your Christmas tree to a holiday feast for goats (with video)
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Diana Tyner (M.Sc.) is a water guru, environmental advisor, and licensed greenhouse gas quantifier. She works with Canadian businesses, industries, and government to advance solutions in water, agriculture, and greenhouse gases.
References
Elin Sundqvist, Patrick Crill, Meelis Mölder, Patrik Vestin, and Anders Lindroth (2012). Atmospheric methane removal by boreal plants. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 39.
Ottawa Citizen (2014). Published article on December 17, 2014 called Canadians spending more on face Christmas trees than real ones. Accessed at http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/canadians-spending-more-on-fake-christmas-trees-than-real-ones
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