How the Dead Can Help Save Our Planet: Green Burial as an Important Conservation Tool

Traditional cemeteries are problematic because cemeteries…

· Occupy significant urban or suburban open space which could be used for better purposes such as recreation and/or nature preserves.

· Burial is very expensive because of the cost of the plot, gravestone, burial vault, and assorted fees such as eternal care, grave opening and closing.

· As families become more geographically disbursed, visiting a grave is difficult if not impossible making traditional cemeteries obsolete.

· Represent one of the most toxic non-manufacturing landscapes because of embalming fluids, caskets, burial vaults, and continual maintenance with fertilizers and pesticides.

Cremation has become an acceptable alternative to burial for Americans as demonstrated by cremations rates reaching 50% nationwide in 2019. But many families are uncomfortable with cremation and feel that burial may be a better way to honor a loved one. Now there is an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional cemeteries and cremation—green burial.

All living things, whether plant or animal, eventually die. The natural cycle of life includes decomposition whereby the tissues of an organism are broken down by microorganisms and returned to the earth to provide nutrients and materials for other living things. This continual natural recycling of organic material is what allows life on earth to flourish. Green burial respects the natural cycle of life and provides families with an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional burial. It also holds the promise of becoming an important tool for natural resource conservation.

Green burial is hardly a new concept, rather it is something that humans have practiced for millennia. But for some reason in modern times we began to insist on embalming our dead and thereby leaving behind a toxic legacy. Accepting green burial as a method to care for our dead is an environmentally responsible way to honor our deceased loved ones and help ensure the health of our planet for future generations. We at forevermore.co promote green burial.

What is green burial?

Green burial is simple, dignified, and beautifully holistic. It allows the dead to return to the earth in the way that nature intended. Green cemeteries abstain from the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and many do not mow the ground to allow nature to flourish. Green cemeteries encourage family and friends to become involved in the actual burial process if they desire to. This can be a wonderful experience for all involved.

Here’s how green burial is done. The deceased are placed in either a simple unfinished wood casket or a natural fiber shroud. No embalming is allowed, because this would hinder the natural decomposition process. The deceased is then buried in a relatively shallow grave, which allows naturally occurring microorganisms to decompose the body—recycling it to replenish the ground where it is buried. The depths of traditional graves are much too deep for most microorganisms to survive.

Types of green burial cemeteries

There are three categories of green cemeteries, and they are all certified by the Green Burial Council https://www.greenburialcouncil.org which has developed a rigorous certification process.

· Hybrid Cemeteries these are dedicated sections of traditional cemeteries where only green burial practices are used—no embalming, only biodegradable caskets or burial shrouds, no use of fertilizers and pesticides, and mowing is kept to a minimum. Memorial markers may be allowed.

· Natural Burial Grounds these are specially developed cemeteries where an environmental impact assessment has been performed prior to the design and opening of the land for burial. The assessment defines which areas of the cemetery are appropriate for burial, and which areas are ecologically sensitive and should not be disturbed. The type and size of memorial markers are regulated to be consistent with the natural landscape.

· Conservation Burial Grounds in addition to meeting all the requirements of Natural Burial Grounds, these cemeteries are developed with strict conservation easements that ensure that the land will remain in its natural state in perpetuity. Easements are usually held by accredited Land Trusts, and the cemetery works with the land trust to ensure that the natural habitat flourishes as a form of nature preserve. The establishment of conservation burial grounds is an important conservation tool—it provides incentives to purchase open space which will ultimately become protected forests, prairies, or meadows in perpetuity.

Why choose green burial?

If you are concerned with ensuring that future generations inherit a greener planet then you should seriously contemplate green burial for yourself or your loved ones. While the green burial movement is relatively new, it has the dual potential to significantly lower death care’s carbon footprint and provide resources to protect important natural habitat. What’s more, green burial, particularly in natural and conservation burial grounds, is significantly less expensive than traditional burial and it leaves an amazing legacy for future generations. Just imagine knowing that you or a loved one in death has provided for the eternal protection of an important piece of landscape. We at forevermore.co will be investing in developing conservation burial grounds.