The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Holden launches ‘People for Trees’
Initiative seeks to reverse tree loss in region
Holden Forests & Gardens seeks to offer more power to the people in its latest effort to restore the tree canopy in the region.
On Feb. 25, HF&G launched a new initiative called “People for Trees” to assist the public in being part of the tree-loss solution.
“We are inviting every member of our community to take notice of the trees around us, grow in our appreciation and love of trees and make a pledge to plant a tree in your yard, at your business or in your neighborhood,” said Jill Koski, president and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens.
After making a pledge at
holdenfg.org/people-fortrees, participants will receive information about:
• Which trees are best to plant in Northeast Ohio
• Where to purchase a tree
• When and how to plant the tree
• Tips for caring for it as it grows
Those who want to donate to have a tree planted can make a contribution that will support a planting in a Cleveland neighborhood.
Forested land and tree canopy are declining in both rural and urban areas, according to the Cleveland Tree Plan 2020 Tree Canopy Progress Report produced by the Cleveland Tree Coalition, including HF&G.
From 2013 to 2018, forestland decreased in rural areas by 300,000 acres, and live trees decreased by 3 million. In Cleveland, the tree canopy declined by 5 percent from 2011 to 2017.
“Our arborists, scientists, community foresters, horticulturists and educators work onsite at the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden, and in our community to grow and care for trees each year, but we can only plant so many,” said Koski. “We realized that, to truly make a difference, we would need to join with and empower community members to plant and care for their own trees. Only together, can we really make a marked improvement on the region’s tree canopy.”
HF&G has nearly a century of expertise in plants and trees in Northeast Ohio and beyond, representatives say. Dr. David Burke, vice president of science and conservation, and his team of scientists are making discoveries about soil health and invasive pests – most recently discovering the nematode that is killing the American Beech tree.
Their work has been cited in The Journal of Forestry, Science Magazine and The Washington Post, among other notable publications.
“When it comes to making a meaningful contribution to countering the effects of climate change, it is best to start right where we are in our backyards, in our communities,” Burke said. “Planting and caring for a tree that uses the energy of sunlight and the process of photosynthesis to take carbon dioxide from the air and also helps soil to capture it, is one of the most powerful things each of us can do.”
In addition, Community Forestry Director Courtney Blashka launched the Working Woods and Tree Corps initiatives to demonstrate healthy tree and forest management practices.
People for Trees will provide a platform for the science and conservation teams to share more of their learning and cuttingedge discoveries with the local community.
Community Partnerships Director Sandra Albro was a co-chair of the CTC for the past four years and is looking forward to focusing more exclusively on encouraging individuals and families to learn more about trees, and to get involved in planting and caring for them through the new initiative.
“Contributing to the tree canopy loss solution can feel daunting,” she said. “People for Trees is designed to make it easier for each one of us to do our part. It is imperative that we act now to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, and other factors on the health of our urban and rural forests.”