{"id":11153,"date":"2016-11-04T07:56:46","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T11:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/"},"modified":"2016-11-06T11:57:41","modified_gmt":"2016-11-06T16:57:41","slug":"christmas-without-christmas-trees","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas without Christmas trees?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Christmas tree has been an icon of the Christian holiday season for over four centuries, but tradition alone will not protect Christmas trees from being threatened by climate change.<\/p>\n

According to experts from the Finnish Forest Research Institute, climate change risks thinning \u2013 or entirely eliminating \u2013 the otherwise thick blankets of snow that protect the coniferous tree from the winter cold. Without the insulation, Christmas trees take longer to thaw in the spring, delaying the start of photosynthesis, and, in turn, stunting growth over the trees\u2019 ten-year growth cycle. Furthermore, increased temperatures may lead to extended breeding seasons for the predatory spruce bark beetle[1]<\/a> and heightened incidents of flooding that contribute to rotten roots (Phytophthora<\/em>)[2]<\/a>. In short, climate change could wreak havoc on the 350 million Christmas trees growing on US farms and the 100,000 people employed full- or part-time in the Christmas tree industry.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"tree\"<\/a>[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Fight back or give up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oregon-based Noble Mountain Tree Farm<\/em>, the world\u2019s largest farmer of natural Christmas trees,[5]<\/a> is just one of the many companies slated to be negatively impacted by climate change. In the face of looming supply pressures, growers like Noble Mountain<\/em> are in search for more resilient breeds such as the Turkish fir[6]<\/a> and genetic engineering methods that may result in stronger trees.[7]<\/a> At the same time, some growers \u2013 especially those in drought-prone areas \u2013 are giving up altogether, resigning themselves to not replanting trees that do not make it through the season.[8]<\/a> Scientists at the University of North Carolina have evidence suggesting that Christmas tree growers may need to increasingly shift their crop to higher \u2013 and more expensive \u2013 elevations to guard against water loss.[9]<\/a> Still others are banding together via the Christmas Tree Promotion Board to support publicity campaigns prompting consumers to \u201cKeep It Real\u201d to fight against the influx of fake plastic trees, often produced in, and imported from, China.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"keep-it-real_4c-1024x66\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Fight the fakes<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>\"fake\"<\/a><\/strong>[11]<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In the face of constrained supply of real Christmas trees, it is important to note that increased use of fake, plastic Christmas trees may only exacerbate the environmental damage. Even if used for six years, a plastic, chemically-laden Christmas tree still has a 60 percent larger environmental footprint than a real tree.[12]<\/a> Furthermore, despite their short lives after having taken 8-12 years to grow to the requisite size, Christmas trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which plastic trees obviously do not do.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n

Since a shrinking natural Christmas tree industry spells trouble not only for air quality but also for landfill waste, farmer ought to band together to better educate consumers and fellow growers of the environmental benefits of supporting the domestic Christmas tree industry over imported green plastic. In particular, the Christmas tree industry needs to reverse a widely-held consumer perception that fake trees are more environmentally friendly than real ones. According to one shopper interviewed by the New York Times, “I’m very environmentally conscious. I’ll keep [a fake Christmas tree] for 10 years, and that’s 10 trees that won’t be cut down.”[14]<\/a> Some natural Christmas tree sellers are not making matters any better: to the question of whether purchasing natural Christmas trees is better than purchasing a fake one, one natural tree seller responded to the New York Times with “I don’t even know for sure… I would guess natural?”<\/p>\n

Without a concerted educational campaign for both the public and Christmas tree growers, the market share of natural Christmas trees will only erode \u2013 in the face of declining consumer demand and increasing risks to supply.<\/p>\n

(627 words).<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Sutinen, S., Roitto, M., & Repo, T. (2015). Vegetative buds, needles and shoot growth of Norway spruce are affected by experimentally delayed soil thawing in the field.\u00a0Forest Ecology and Management<\/em>,\u00a0336<\/em>, 217-223.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> http:\/\/www.americanforests.org\/christmas-tree-diseases-hit-home\/<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> http:\/\/extension.illinois.edu\/trees\/facts.cfm<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> http:\/\/ipm.ncsu.edu\/Scouting_Fraser_Fir\/Fir_images\/prr.jpg<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> http:\/\/www.noblemountain.com\/about.htm<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2013\/12\/02\/christmas-tree-root-rot\/3804141\/<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> http:\/\/www.popsci.com\/science\/article\/2012-12\/how-science-perfecting-real-christmas-trees<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> http:\/\/www.beloitdailynews.com\/news\/even-christmas-trees-suffered-from-drought\/article_f8dce446-1dee-11e2-982b-001a4bcf887a.html<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> https:\/\/www.northcarolina.edu\/feature-stories\/research-explores-effects-warming-climate-region%E2%80%99s-christmastree-industry<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> http:\/\/www.christmastreepromotionboard.org\/2016-campaign\/<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> http:\/\/english.sina.com\/business\/p\/2011\/1216\/423868.html<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> https:\/\/www.sju.edu\/news-events\/news\/not-humbug-christmas-trees-and-climate-change<\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> http:\/\/climatekids.nasa.gov\/christmas-tree\/<\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2010\/12\/18\/business\/energy-environment\/18tree.html<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The natural Christmas tree industry is at risk from both changing climate conditions and plastic competitors from China<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2565,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-11153","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","hentry"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nChristmas without Christmas trees? - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christmas without Christmas trees? - Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The natural Christmas tree industry is at risk from both changing climate conditions and plastic competitors from China\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-11-06T16:57:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/tree.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/\",\"name\":\"Christmas without Christmas trees? - Technology and Operations Management\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/tree.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-04T11:56:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-11-06T16:57:41+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/tree.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/tree.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Submissions\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Christmas without Christmas trees?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\",\"name\":\"Technology and Operations Management\",\"description\":\"MBA Student Perspectives\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"性视界Action\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Christmas without Christmas trees? - Technology and Operations Management","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Christmas without Christmas trees? - Technology and Operations Management","og_description":"The natural Christmas tree industry is at risk from both changing climate conditions and plastic competitors from China","og_url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/","og_site_name":"Technology and Operations Management","article_modified_time":"2016-11-06T16:57:41+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/tree.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/","name":"Christmas without Christmas trees? - Technology and Operations Management","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/tree.jpg","datePublished":"2016-11-04T11:56:46+00:00","dateModified":"2016-11-06T16:57:41+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/tree.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/tree.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/christmas-without-christmas-trees\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Submissions","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Christmas without Christmas trees?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/","name":"Technology and Operations Management","description":"MBA Student Perspectives","potentialAction":[{"@type":"性视界Action","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/11153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hck-submission"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2565"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/11153\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}