2007 Tree-Planting Highlights:

Project Name: ‘Second Life’ Reforestation Program
Project Location: Rainforest Areas Worldwide

Converseon partnered with Plant-It 2020 to have people plant virtual trees in the virtual world Second Life. For each virtual tree planted, Plant-It 2020 will plant a real indigenous tree in a rainforest area. This is perhaps the first example of using ‘virtual reality’ to beneficially affect physical reality. The competition is over.

Constructed by Converseon

Project Name: The Synergy Company Carbon Offset and Reforestation Program
Project Location: Split between 1) United States SouthWest, 2) United States All Over, and 3) Worldwide

The Synergy Company annual plants 2,000+ indigenous trees through Plant-It 2020 as a method of carbon offset and being responsible stewards despite their already highly prestigious environmental record. The trees are planted in the United States and worldwide. In 2007, part of Synergy’s generosity resulted in over 1,000 trees being planted in the Tanout region of Niger. Fruit trees sustainably produce food that reduces starvation, stops the encroaching Sahara desert and allows families to stay together. This reforestation project is implemented through the Eden Foundation (http://www.eden-foundation.org).

Project Name: 2007 “Denver Digs Trees” Street Tree Program
Project Location: Denver, CO, USA

Plant-It 2020 sponsors the 2007 “Denver Digs Trees” Street Tree Program. The Park People (a.k.a. Denver Parks & Recreation Foundation, Inc.) coordinates the “Denver Digs Trees” program to increase the number of public trees along the streets of the City and County of Denver, placing special emphasis on Denver’s lowest-income neighborhoods. For 2007, “Denver Digs Trees” will plant at least 1,200 new street trees in Denver, with at least 800 of those going into Denver’s nineteen most underserved neighborhoods. The nineteen targeted neighborhoods that receive special emphasis comprise a population of more than 128,000, 82% of whom are minorities, and nearly 24% of whom live at or below the poverty level. Outreach efforts include educational workshops, including a tree planting clinic and distribution of the publication “Sapling in the City”, all of which targets single-family homes and multi-family units to concentrate the tree plantings.

Project Name: Salida Adopt-A-Tree Program
Project Location: Salida, CO. USA

This project will plant 20 street trees through the Adopt-A-Tree Program which was instituted in 1999 to address the issue of the city’s aging urban forest. As aging street trees are removed they are replaced via this program with more desirable species. Additionally, due to a repaving project, Salida will lose 24 mature street trees in 2007 along on eight block stretch of major street, making it especially urgent that the trees are replaced. The program allows adjoining property owners to apply for a free tree with the understanding they will care for the tree. Once approved the trees are planted by a local contractor under guidelines established by the American Association of Nurserymen, with participation of the Salida Tree Board and other volunteers.

Project Name: Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Tree Planting Project
Project Location: Pueblo, Colorado, USA

The Demonstration Xeriscape Garden is open to the public seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Residents throughout southern Colorado come to visit, attend tours, workshops and classes. Over 300 species of low-water trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses are displayed. The Garden features interpretive signage as well. The District intends to increase the number of trees in the Garden with this grant, in order to demonstrate new species that can be planted to conserve water in landscapes. The new additions to the Garden will have signage that will describe the trees’ attributes and will also provide valuable examples of low-water trees that perform well in southern Colorado.

Project Name: Paonia Arbor Day Celebration 2007
Project Location: Paonia, Colorado, USA

The first part of this project planted 5 trees at the cornerstone intersection in town to create more beauty at the town center, and to cultivate a deeper connection and appreciation for trees in Paonia. Another part of the project involved planting trees and integrating the planting with educational programs at the Paonia High School and elementary school. Students will entered an Arbor Day poster contest as well as attended an educational program and tree planting. This project promoted community forestry, and demonstrated proper arboriculture with appropriate tree selection, location, planting and maintenance practices.

Project Name: Erie Elementary School Tree Planting and Education Project
Project Location: Erie, Colorado, USA

The two trees planted are on the town’s approved tree list and are new species at the school, offering students to learn about the new trees and to have hands-on experience with the planting. School administrators have designated the 4th grade as the project’s focal point. Each of the 4th grade teachers received a Tree-Mendous Activity Kit from Nature Watch, which includes materials to help students learn to identify and explore a variety of different types of local trees in their area. The teachers developed specific lesson plans and activities leading up to the actual planting, culminating in a presentation from Keith Wood of the Colorado State Forest Service.

Project Name: Denver Botanic Gardens’ 2007 Tree Projects
Project Location: Denver, Colorado, USA

The Children’s Secret Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG) had two large Russian-olive trees that have major defects in the trunk sections. The trees were assessed by a professional arborist who recommended their removal based on their conditions. This project became an educational opportunity to remove these examples of an invasive tree species and plant other species with educational value in their place. DBG also had a problematic cottonwood tree along York Street, having overgrown its available space, and which needed to be removed. Also as part of this project DBG planted additional native trees at the DBG Chatfield site, which serves as a complement to the downtown DBG site emphasizing the use of native plants. Project outcomes of the included safer, more appropriate trees for public interpretation at DBG York Street and relevant native tree species for DBG Chatfield.

Project Name: Restoration of Coal Creek Corridor and Open Space
Project Location: Lafayette, Colorado, USA

The Urban Drainage and Flood Control District removed all Russian-olive trees in this area during the Fall of 2006. This project allowed this Lafayette open space area to plant native tree species to replace the Russian-olives. The Lafayette Open Space Advisory Committee serves as Lafayette’s Tree Board and was active with educating residents on the invasive nature of Russian-olive and replacing the removed trees during an Arbor Day celebration with 75 native trees.

Project Name: Significant Tree Brochure
Project Location: Greeley, Colorado, USA

During the Spring of 2006 the Greeley Forestry Division created a color brochure titled “Notable Trees of Greeley, CO”. The brochure outlines rare, significant and champion trees along with Greeley Forestry’s website and phone numbers. This project allowed the printing of 1,000 copies of the brochure. Hunting for large, old, unique and champion trees has become increasingly popular and the need to provide information on tree care is more important than ever. The brochure was given out during neighborhood workshops hosted by Greeley Forestry and was an integral piece of the educational aspect during these presentations.