Mulch stirs trouble in log industry

Some say cypress mulch isn't worth the environmental cost.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published July 23, 2007

MELBOURNE - Cypress mulch is loved by gardeners for its weed-blocking powers, but environmentalists are urging consumers not to buy it because they believe cypress trees are more beneficial as natural barriers for hurricane storm surge and filters of polluted stormwater runoff.

Cypress grew on about 2.8-million acres in Florida in 2005 compared to 3.6-million acres a decade earlier. But Florida forestry officials said the drop is due to new mapping procedures and that the trees are still being harvested at a sustainable rate.

Environmental groups are criticizing retailers such as Wal-Mart and Lowe's for marketing it.

"They are developing the market for it by distributing it," said Dave Favre, an organizer with Gulf Restoration Network. "I'm not saying cypress is a bad mulch, but it's just not worth the environmental cost. It's like shredding up the Constitution to make Post-it notes."

The logging industry argues that the cypress mulch is made from treetops, which would be wasted after the tree was made into lumber. They said environmentalists have a broader agenda.

"They won't stop with mulch," said Bill Bell, part owner of Kempfer's Sawmill in St. Cloud. "When they get through with the cypress issue, they'll go to pine or whatever else. They just don't want to cut trees, period."

Information from Florida Today was used in this report.

[Last modified July 22, 2007, 22:30:01]