ReLeaf's Commitment to a Greener Erie

Contributed photo

In 2021, students, faculty, and volunteers planted nearly 650 native trees in an excavated plot of land on Mercyhurst's campus. The purpose of these tiny forests is to attract local insects, birds, and wildlife to inhabit an urban area.

Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier, or LEAF, has been a steadfast resource for Erie since the nonprofit planted their first tree in 1998, providing the community with accessible outdoor space and activities. Over the years, LEAF employees have evolved their programming to provide free environmental education.

In 2020, the organization launched its ReLeaf tree-planting initiative. The goal of ReLeaf is to plant 275,000 trees — each tree representing every citizen in Erie County. Since the culmination of the initiative, program partners and volunteers have planted 56,742 native trees throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania.

According to LEAF executive director Erin Green (40 Under 40 Class of 2023), the organization is committed to fostering awareness about the role of native trees and promoting environmental appreciation through educational initiatives and outdoor experiences. "We hope to impact Erie by planting these trees and making it a better place for us all to live," she said.

When driving around Erie County, passersby can easily identify tree seedlings recently planted through the ReLeaf initiative. Standing around two to three feet tall, the native tree seedlings are protected by white tube shelters and supported by stakes. "You can see the younger trees with their space and shelters. You can kind of identify around the city which ones have come from us," Green said.

The tree species and planting locations are carefully selected to ensure a healthy life for each tree, contributing to a greener future. LEAF only plants native trees to support local biodiversity like birds, insects, and wildlife. "Erie is part of a greater watershed. So the lake, the streams, and the creeks that run up and down the coast in our area are all benefited by the trees we plant here," Green said.

Native tree species have numerous benefits — promoting biodiversity and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change. Trees absorb what humans put off — removing harmful pollutants from the environment. Their root systems absorb rainwater, preventing erosion and reducing urban runoff. Further, trees raise property value and reduce noise pollution.

Beyond environmental benefits, Green noted the inherent aesthetic appeal. "Planting a tree is beautiful. It's something nice to look at," she said.

LEAF receives free trees and resources like planting stakes and shelters through their partnership with Keystone 10 Million Trees. Based out of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed area, this organization provides Pennsylvania-based nonprofits with tree-planting resources.

Originally, ReLeaf planned to reach its goal within five years. But organizers soon found that extending the timeline was essential to the vitality of the young tree seedlings. "Quality is more important," Green said. "We're planting thousands and thousands of trees every year so we'll get there. What's important is that they're going to live."

 ReLeaf's initiative of planting a new tree for each citizen of Erie County is off to a great start – since 2020, volunteers and program partners have planted 56,742 throughout the local environment and they are always looking for more people to help out the cause.

Before trees are fully grown, they are more vulnerable to weather and pest damage and require frequent upkeep. ReLeaf trees are maintained by dedicated volunteers, employees, and program partners.

Green noted the contributions of returning volunteers who have "become part of the team." Several local partners sponsor the project, including Erie Insurance, First Energy, and The United Way. Erie Insurance has plans to plant 100 trees in Downtown Erie to further contribute to the initiative.

LEAF is working to spread the word to increase community involvement in order to reach their goal and spread public awareness. "We're slowly inching up towards the goal. But we can't do it alone. We really need volunteers, partners, and more people," Green said, describing the initiative as a "team effort."

Through educational programming, students have been a huge part of their progress. According to program director Hannah Rhodes, there are programs tailored for all age groups. "Elementary, middle, and high school students all have roles they can play," Rhodes said.

Organizers hope the programming can help nurture a new generation of environmentally aware and responsible citizens. Rhodes further emphasized the benefits of hands-on learning experiences for young children, who are encouraged to get their hands dirty and learn how to plant and maintain trees. Already, organizers have observed a higher level of environmental literacy in the students involved in LEAF's programming.

The organization also provides trees for residents, farmers, and business owners to plant on private property. One benefit of tree planting, Rhodes says, is the level of accessibility: "A community member can plant that tree and watch it grow and that's as involved as we need them to be," she explained. "There are levels of accessibility that make it really positive for the community."

One notable project of the ReLeaf initiative is the tiny forest at Mercyhurst University. In the fall of 2021, students, faculty, and volunteers planted 649 native trees in an excavated plot about the size of a tennis court. The tiny forest was planted near the university's Center for Academic Advancement, intentionally in view of drivers traveling along East 38th Street.

Tiny forests involve a tree-planting method that expedites growth and offers several environmental benefits. Native trees are densely planted so the root systems intertwine to share soil and nutrients, allowing for the plant to grow quicker than a tree seedling in nature. After two growing seasons, many of the trees on the campus have already grown up to 15 feet tall.

"They will attract native insects which attract native birds and other wildlife. And you end up with this little biodiversity hotspot in an urban area," said Christopher Dolanc, co-director of environmental science at Mercyhurst.

Dolanc further emphasized the significance of access to nature in urban areas: "People living in urban areas don't have the same access to nature that rural areas have," he said. "So little patches of land where we can kind of emulate nature are really important."

Students and faculty will monitor, maintain, and research the tiny forest and its progress. Dolanc has applied the tiny forest in several courses, including promoting student-driven research on the forest's carbon sequestration over time, compared to the output from the university dorms. Organizers hope to see more research-driven projects in the future to monitor the long-term impact of the ReLeaf initiative.

"Trees are our future," Rhoades said. "When we help community members grow trees, they are growing their future."

LEAF is gearing up for a series of spring events. The nonprofit is inviting community members and visitors to Frontier Park for their "Park Side of the Moon" solar viewing event on Monday, April 8. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m., aligning with the historic solar eclipse, occurring over Erie from 2:02 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On Saturday, April 15, the organization is holding an Arbor Day celebration at Franklin Park. During this event, volunteers will plant a new tiny forest. And to celebrate Earth Day, the organization is hosting a spring clean-up and tree-planting event at Frontier Park on Wednesday, April 22.

Those interested in supporting ReLeaf can find more information at releaferie.org.

Julia Carden can be reached at juliacarden91@gmail.com