Isra-Mart srl : UI Students Plant Trees to Clear Their Carbon Footprint

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Isra-Mart srl news:

A group of University of Iowa students got dirty to clean the air in Iowa City on Friday. All weekend they are planting trees with the hope of offsetting their carbon footprint. But, there is a payoff, a field trip across the country.

"There is fifteen of us driving in three vans. And three thousand miles each van. That is a lot of gasoline," Professor Art Bettis said, stomping a shovel into the ground.

The group is headed west to visit four national parks. They calculated the trip will put out 6.2 metric tons of carbon into the air.

"Just see how much of a carbon footprint we have and see if there is something we can do about it," Prof. Bettis said. Their solution, planting over a thousand shrubs.

"You see how much you have to do to make up for one car trip," a student said. "And it is real tangible. We’re out here getting our hands dirty," Prof. Bettis said.

Bettis says it is a lesson his students can’t learn in a classroom. "They are going to learn a whole bunch of stuff here. It is a real awareness thing, because this is a lot of work," Bettis said.

He students appreciate the hands-on work. "I think people need to think about it more. And not think they are not part of the problem and can’t be part of the solution," one student said.