CLEVELAND — Members of the community gathered at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Thursday morning for the planting of 800 trees that will make up a mini forest, the first of its kind at any zoo in the United States.
The zoo received help from the nonprofit Rooted in Trees, which aims to maintain and restore Northern Ohio's tree canopy. The green space will cover roughly the size of a tennis court with the goal of increasing tree cover in Cleveland's urban area, with officials expecting it to be fully developed by 2040.
"This mini forest planting initiative symbolizes our commitment to restoring native ecosystems, educating the public about the importance of tree canopies and fostering community involvement," Paul Abbey, founder of Rooted in Trees, said in a statement. "By creating this dense native woodland area, we are not only enhancing the Zoo's landscape but also contributing to a greener, healthier environment for the entire community."
Members of The Holden Arboretum's Tree Corps, the Student Conservation Association, and 30 eighth graders from Cleveland's Urban Community School helped put the trees in the ground. The forest will feature various trees and shrubs native to Northeast Ohio, including ironwoods, Ohio buckeyes, red oaks, tulip trees, viburnums, and witch hazels.