Revitalize Endangered Species

According to the 2006 IUCN Red List, there are over 7,000 species of tree that are threatened or endangered, 23 species are extinct in the wild and 79 species are gone forever.

One difficulty in revitalizing an endangered tree is a limited seed source. Seeds must be collected from the few trees that remain and used to grow seedlings in a controlled environment until they are strong enough to be planted in the wild. These young trees (depending on the species) can take up to 30 years before they begin to contribute to the seed source. The RPM (Root Production Method)® can speed that process exponentially. Most species on which the RPM (Root Production Method)® has been tested have begun to produce seeds within the first three years.

The following table shows the difference in the number of trees produced using the RPM (Root Production Method)® versus traditional methods. Several assumptions are made 1) there are 10 original trees to be used as seed source 2) one seed from every seed producing tree is collected, processed (only for the RPM (Root Production Method)®), germinated, grown and planted every year 3) traditionally grown trees require 30 years for seed production 4) RPM (Root Production Method)® grown trees require 1 to 3 years for seed production and 5) there is 100% survival of all trees once planted.

Number of Original Trees	Number of Years the Planting Process is to be Repeated	Total Number of Trees at the End of the Time Period Using the RPM Process	Total Number of Trees at the End of the Time Period Using Traditional Methods
10	5	62	50
10	10	445	100
10	15	3,150	150
10	20	22,328	200
10	25	158,287	250
10	30	1,122,108	300

By causing trees to produce seeds in 1 to 3 years instead of 30, the RPM (Root Production Method)® increases the seed source every year exponentially. With minimal effort, as the RPM (Root Production Method)® process is very simple, any endangered tree species could be revitalized.

About Earthmark

EarthMark International, Inc, EMI, is a broker of a unique technology that has proven to accelerate growth and early fruiting of most plants. EMI owns the exclusive rights within the USDA low temperature zones of 8 - 11 to grow plants using a proven accelerated growth process called, RPM (Root Production Method)®.

Over the past 20+ years, the RPM (Root Production Method)® process has had impressive results in accelerating the growth rate and improving survival of many species of trees. This process is owned by Forrest Keeling Nursery of Elsberry Missouri, and is licensed to EarthMark International. Most trees have produced 3 to 5 feet of growth in the first growing season. In addition acorns have been produced three percent of the time within the first year and one hundred percent of the time within the third year. An open-grown oak tree typically produces acorns when it is 20 to 30 years old. This is an all-natural process, which, without chemical enhancements or genetic alterations, increases overall hardiness and accelerates the growth of processed trees.

The core of an RPM (Root Production Method)® tree's success is in its roots. These trees are grown in successively larger pots until ready for sale and planting on site. Bare root seedlings are typically planted in the ground at a nursery and allowed to grow for 1 to 3 seasons before being dug up and potted for sale. Digging up the bare root seedling cuts or tears the roots causing a period of transplant shock, which RPM (Root Production Method)® trees do not experience. The RPM (Root Production Method)® process also causes massive production of feeder roots, which allow the tree to "believe" that it is 15 to 20 years old after one growing season. This accelerates the tree's growth, causes early nut/fruit production, gives the tree a more solid foundation once planted and provides a greatly increased ability to obtain oxygen, water and food during harsh conditions (flood or drought) during the trees early stages.

Bare root seedling (left) at approximately 715 days.

RPM (Root Production Method)® tree and root system ready for planting (right) at approximately 210 days.