In addition to being an act of community responsibility it was a confirmation of the growth and importance of this young (in all senses of the word) movement, making a difference and drawing the community’s attention to vital environmental issues.
And so it was that Ally Maize’s Green Youth Movement collaborated with the Tarzana Chamber of Commerce initiative in launching a Million Trees LA event in Woodland Hills. (See Video at: http://tinyurl.com/yc9fuh3)
Million Trees LA is a cooperative effort between the City of Los Angeles, community groups, businesses, and individuals working together to plant and care for 1,000,000 trees planted where they’re needed most.
Richard Maize participated in the project together with other organizations and groups. These included the LA Conservation Corps, the US Forest Service, the Fire Department, the Department of Public Works, politicians, professional environmentalists, private gardeners, high school volunteers and teachers.
Richard Maize's keen interest in the environment, motivated by his daughter’s initiative with Green Youth Movement, resulted in his family donating 650 trees for planting after Halloween – one tree for every “Trick or Treater” who called on them.
Reporting on the planting on Ventura Boulevard, Richard Maize said the groups were supplied with traffic cones, shovels, picks and a water truck and given a “fast track” roadside education course in forestry:
“We learned that no tree can thrive if it is planted too low or too deep or too high,” Richard Maize said. “It was a wonderful experience,” he added. “...a truly cooperative effort to give something back to the community with everyone participating at their own level in their own way.”
The groups were divided into teams, and under the supervision of a Forest Ranger planted 25, 36 inch boxed trees in 2 hours along a busy urban artery.
One Million New Trees in the City of Los Angeles will create an extraordinary environmental legacy that will serve as a watershed for other environmental changes.
“Los Angeles will be transformed to a green, sustainable city in this important community effort," Richard Maize added.
Many of the one million new trees will be planted by City departments on public property, such as the Ventura Boulevard project. Others will be planted throughout the City by individual volunteers, community groups, organizations like GYM and businesses.
Million Trees LA will take several years and build on other programs that plant and care for the urban forest. Trees that maximize sustainability – with a preference on native and drought tolerant species – are recommended.
In addition, the City of Los Angeles is working with the USDA Forest Service, PSW Research Station, and the Center for Urban Forest Research to prepare a science-based tree canopy analysis to identify priority areas using satellite imagery and to recommend the right kinds of trees that will give the greatest ecological and societal benefits. Special attention will be given to schools, under-served communities, and those areas along the Los Angeles River.
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