CLEVELAND — Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the Scott and Julie Mawaka Foundation hosted owners and executives of the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers and Kaulig Racing for a panel discussion in Public Square on the importance of rebuilding Cleveland's urban tree canopy.
The event kicks off ROCK in CLE presented by Kaulig Companies. It’s a fundraising effort that organizers say supports the Land Conservancy’s Reforest Our City campaign.
The following people attended today’s event:
- Rich Cochran, President and CEO, Western Reserve Land Conservancy
- Dee Haslam, Managing and Principal Partner, Cleveland Browns
- Matt Kaulig, Executive Chairman and Owner, Kaulig Companies
- Tim Clepper: President and CEO, Kaulig Companies
- Paul Dolan, CEO, Cleveland Indians
- Len Komoroski, CEO, Cleveland Cavaliers
"What is clear today is that Cleveland is rapidly losing the healthy and robust tree population that once inspired the Forest City name," officials said in a press release. "A healthy urban tree canopy – the layer of tree leaves, branches and stems that provide tree coverage of the ground when viewed from above – should be above 30 percent. Cleveland’s tree canopy coverage is at 18 percent and declining."
The idea for ROC in CLE came from discussions between the Land Conservancy and Hudson residents Scott and Julie Mawaka, who operate the Mawaka Foundation, a charitable nonprofit established by the couple in 2004.
“When we learned about what the Land Conservancy was doing in and around the Cleveland area, we knew partnering with them would be a great fit,” said Scott Mawaka. “Over the years we’ve partnered with many local charities to raise awareness and provide support. This year we are so excited to host tree plantings, organize this great panel discussion, and host a world-class concert event. We’re going to generate funding for the Land Conservancy to continue their great work providing the people of our region with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration.”
We streamed the entire event live, which you can watch in the player below:
Here was the event’s agenda:
- 8:30 a.m. Guests and speakers arrive
- 9 a.m. Opening remarks
- 9:30 a.m. Panel discussion
- 10 a.m. Ceremonial Tree Planting with Panelists
- 10:30 a.m. End
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