Ohio EPA environmental education grant funds project to encourage tree coverage in Cleveland

The Western Reserve Land Conservancy, in partnership with Holden Arboretum, won an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Environmental Education Fund grant worth $41,619 for a project to increase the urban forest canopy in the Cleveland Metropolitan Area.

Urban trees are critical for both environmental and public health, reducing air pollution levels by serving as a filter and lowering temperatures due to their shade coverage. Trees are also valuable resources for their ability to conserve energy, lessen the amounts of storm-water runoff, increase biodiversity and serve as wildlife habitats. Trees also raise the property value of land on which they are planted.

The Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Holden Arboretum project seek to show residents of local communities how trees should be planted and, once they’ve grown, how they should be cared for. The organizations are also partnering with the Slavic Village Community Development Corp., Burten, Bell, the Carr Development Corp., the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp. and Ohio City Inc.

The Ohio EPA grant that will partially fund the project is one of seven recently awarded across the state, totaling $261,183. The Ohio EPA is currently accepting letters of intent for the next round of grants, which is open to environmental groups. schools, professional organizations and branches of local and state governments, among others.