Good News! 7 Positive Environmental Stories from April 2022

Starting on May 1st, 2023, restaurants, stores and other establishments in unincorporated areas of LA county will be restricted from using single-use plastic. As of now, the county is the largest government entity that has taken action against single use plastic food ware. The thousands of restaurants serving nearly 1 million people have been given a year to comply, and will be subject to fines of up to $1000/year if they don't. This is a major win for marine and human health, and we hope that other counties will follow suit! 

Palm oil, a ubiquitous ingredient in processed foods around the globe, is also the primary oil used for cooking in Indonesia. In recent months, there has been domestic shortage of this important ingredient, prompting an indefinite ban on its export that began on April 22nd. This ban has elicited mixed reactions, as Indonesia produces 59% of the global palm oil supply, with detractors claiming that it will negatively affect the country's economy and drive prices down, which will hurt all producers. Still, some small farmers are hopeful this ban will reform an industry that's focused primarily on exporting to global markets — and turn its attention back home, where it's responsible for intense deforestation and forest fires in the Asia Pacific.

Researchers say that someday, humans may be able to recreate the way that bears hibernate, which would be particularly beneficial to humans that are confined to long-term bed rest. If we were able replicate this biological wonder, it could help prevent the worst effects of long-term immobility, which include muscle breakdown and bone thinning. And the health implications don't stop there: in March, a study was proposed to test whether using a drug to induce a hibernation-like state could preserve brain function in stroke patients. Researchers are also hopeful it could help heart attack patients, and those diagnosed with Parkinsons or Alzheimers disease.

On Earth Day, 799 people from 12 different organizations joined together to break a world record! For 20 seconds, all 799 participants simultaneously watered individual plants while live on The Today Show — earning them world record for most people watering plants simultaneously. The One Tree Planted team was proud to account for 62 of those world record breakers!

During the 7th Our Oceans Conference, 410 commitments were made towards bettering the health and protection of our oceans. These commitments, worth over $16 billion are in addition to $108 billion committed during past conferences that have already protected an estimated 5 million square miles of ocean. Discussions focused on tackling plastic pollution, supporting marine protected areas, and ocean-based climate change solutions.