District’s first Environmental Sustainability project is underway
With the support of the District Governor Tom Gump and the District Conference Committee, the District 5950 Tree Planting Project is the District’s first environmental sustainability project under Rotary International’s new Area of Focus: Supporting the Environment.
We have a unique opportunity to collaborate with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Tree Trust to plant trees in historically under-resourced communities and low tree canopy areas. Urban forests provide significant benefits to our communities, including cleaner air, alleviating heat stress and the “heat island” effect, helping manage stormwater, improving wildlife habitat, and providing spaces where people can connect with nature.
Our goal is to have every club in the district commit to funding one, two, or three trees at a cost of $450 each to plant and maintain a tree. So, we are asking each club to fund $450, $900, or $1,350. Each tree is 6’ to 8’ tall with a 1” trunk; the $450 cost includes two years of ongoing stewardship, mulching and watering. We hope to raise enough funds to plant 100 or more trees in historically under-resourced communities and low tree canopy areas in the Twin Cities area on May 1, 2021. This tree planting project will be featured as a volunteer project for the 2021 District 5950 District Conference.
Please contact Andrew Ramirez (Minneapolis Uptown Rotary), rami0074@icloud.com; or Bill Sierks (Edina Morningside Rotary), wsierks@comcast.net for more information or to join us. Thank you!