..greetings
soundtribe30 ,
i actually do like hugging trees (though i'm not a hippie,at least i don't think so)..
..i have been told that M. hostilis (the Mexican variety) can regrow from the root base after significant damage (don't know firsthand),
whereas acacias
do die from large bark collections..
..i wholeheartedly support your 'trees for future generations' philosophy..
hope you enjoy & find the nex useful...