A friend just sent this link from Scotland On Sunday -- http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=188350200

Bagpipes a threat to the environment (and we're not talking noise pollution)
MARC HORNE

THEY were once outlawed for being used as seditious weapons of war. Now, bagpipes have been blasted as an environmental menace.

Over-intensive logging means that the African wood used to make Scotland's national instrument faces being wiped out.

Conservation groups are letting out skirls of protest, urging musicians and instrument manufacturers to make sure their pipes come from eco-friendly sources.

As part of the campaign, Scots are being asked to fund the planting of "bagpipe trees" in a bid to atone for the environmental damage.   

(More to the article, of course.)

Some interesting commentary there, too, on the article.

Linn