Mauna Kea Restoration

Treecember

Treecember Is Back!

While many are trimming trees, CheckSammy is helping them grow. For the third year in a row, CheckSammy is partnering with OneTree Planted to make a positive impact on the environment. Treecember 2023 is all about revitalizing areas impacted by deforestation.

What is Treecember?

Throughout December, we will plant one tree for every job completed, and we'll plant 10 trees for every new location we service, be it for an existing or a new client!

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Treecember 2022 Recap

A Heartfelt Success

Before we dive into this year’s Treecember campaign, let’s take a moment to celebrate last year’s success. In Treecember 2022, CheckSammy, in collaboration with OneTree Planted, planted over 7,200 trees in the Appalachian region! Those trees helped:

Expand Habitats for native wildlife.
Improve the hydrological function, providing better drinking water.
Communities dependent on eco-tourism thrive!

The Treecember 2023 Initiative

Just like last year, CheckSammy is working hand-in-hand with OneTree Planted to plant one tree for every job completed throughout December, and we will plant 10 trees for every new location we service for both existing and new clients!

That's a significant increase in reforestation efforts, and it's all thanks to your support! No job is too small. Every power washing site, every waste removal project, every sustainable solution will go towards helping reforestation efforts during the month of December. This year we are focusing on the Mauna Kea Restoration in Hawaii.

 

What Is the Mauna Kea Restoration?

Understanding the importance of this relationship and intimately living it is the foundation of the Mauna Kea Restoration project and its new vision for biocultural management of Mauna A Wākea.

Mauna Kea, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the highest point in the state and stands as the tallest mountain in the world when measured from its base on the ocean floor to its summit. It reaches an impressive height of over 13,800 feet above sea level.

Despite its height, Mauna Kea boasts a wide range of climate zones, spanning from tropical forests to alpine desert environments.

This diversity supports a unique array of ecosystems, making it home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including several endemic and endangered species.

 

As we care for Mauna Kea, it reciprocates by nurturing and supporting us.

The area holds immense cultural and spiritual importance for the Native Hawaiian people. Referred to as Mauna A Wākea in Hawaiian culture, it is considered a sacred site and a connection to the heavens. It features numerous important cultural and religious sites and holds a central place in Hawaiian cosmology and tradition. Understanding and living the vital relationship with Mauna A Wākea forms the cornerstone of this project and the new vision for the biocultural management of this landscape. This reciprocal responsibility between land and people, our kuleana, drives volunteers to protect and ensure both resilience and sustainability in caring for Mauna Kea.

Today, Mauna Kea faces various challenges—from a changing climate to invasive species and biodiversity loss, necessitating careful stewardship. With limited rainfall, especially in the western regions, wildfire preparedness is crucial, demanding accessible water resources.

“Recognizing the needs and challenges faced by Mauna Kea, we, the younger generation, are committed to responding to its call. Restoring the deep connections between people and the land of Mauna Kea will enhance the well-being of our ecological and human communities.”
• OneTreePlanted Proposal

The project aims to reconnect participants to the land through biocultural restoration actions, specifically focusing on the restoration of the lei māmane, a traditional symbol of Mauna Kea's health and vitality

This comprehensive approach addresses core community needs, biodiversity, and ecosystem function, advocating for a significant investment in the biocultural training of young professionals. By integrating knowledge from both Western and Native Hawaiian systems, training will build resilience across social, economic, cultural, and ecological dimensions, ensuring the sustainability of Mauna Kea amidst environmental changes.

How This Restoration Will Help

Although full forest recovery is expected to take decades, this project continues the ongoing restoration that is occurring. Forrest recovery goes beyond adding shade, this initiative is expected to have long-lasting and sweeping ecological and cultural impacts.

  • 1. Habitat Restoration for Endangered Species: Creating and restoring critical habitats for endangered species such as the Palila bird, Hawaiian Hoary Bat, endemic plants, and invertebrates.
  • 2.Biodiversity Enhancement: Reducing invasive species cover to foster a more diverse and robust ecosystem.
  • 3.Fire Risk Reduction: Diminishing fire dangers by increasing forest canopy and reducing grass density.
  • 4.Enhanced Water Supply and Erosion Control: Improving soil moisture and preventing erosion for a stable environment.
  • 5.Cultural and Spiritual Restoration: Reviving traditional values and practices tied to the native flora of Mauna Kea.
  • 6.Educational and Community Involvement: Serving as a model for landscape-level restoration efforts and engaging communities for stewardship and responsibility.
  • 7.Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainability: Contributing to the overall health and resilience of the ecosystem, ensuring long-term sustainability.

The Hawaiian Trip That Started It All

On Beach vacation in the Hawaiian Islands, Sam Scoten watched families buy brand-new beach toys for their time on the beach, and throw them in the garbage at the end of their trip. This led Scoten to create swap bins in his Vancouver community, where people could throw away items they no longer wanted, but others could use.

Diverting waste from landfills helped launch CheckSammy in 2018 and remains a core value of the company today— finding and implementing the best solutions for waste materials. To date, CheckSammy has diverted over 175 million pounds of waste material from landfills!

The Hawaiian Trip That Started It All

How You Can Help

Treecember 2023 is not just a campaign; it's a movement that anyone can be a part of. Share the word with colleagues, friends, and family, and encourage them to join this impactful initiative. Treecember starts December 1st to help the Mauna Kea Restoration and making a real difference in the world.

So, let's spread the word, share the love, and make this holiday season truly special by joining the Treecember movement. Together, we can create a greener, more sustainable world, one tree at a time.

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