The Economic Times

In 2021, Alabama started turning discarded Christmas trees into sand dunes: How old festive trees are now helping protect Gulf Coast beaches

Christmas trees that were once the focal point of holiday celebrations are now playing a vital role in rebuilding sand dunes along Alabama's Gulf Coast. This inventive project repurposes discarded trees to trap wind-blown sand and encourage dune formation. To strengthen these new habitats, local volunteers then plant thousands of native coastal species, helping promote recycling while bolstering natural barriers against erosion and storm surges.