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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Imagining Climate Change

Trees!

Dig a hole, drop in a sapling, refill, mulch, water… and repeat

A growing body of scientific research shows that regeneration of natural forests and planting new trees on treeless lands are among the most economical and effective climate change mitigation solutions available to us.1

Since early 2019, Imagining Climate Change has worked with the Alachua County Department of Land Conservation and Management to coordinate volunteer tree plantings in and around the city of Gainesville. The plantings emphasize high-value tree species appropriate for site conditions on County owned right of ways, developed County properties, and properties directly influencing the public sphere. Of priority are trees that provide shade for bicycling and human pedestrians, provide erosion control, extend forest canopy, and support plant and wildlife biodiversity and carbon sequestration. (See this page for a list of the different tree species planted thus far.) The most recent census (2021) showed that 98% of trees planted in this initiative remain in excellent health.

Tree plantings are fun, low-effort undertakings to beautify our community and to help foster a sustainable local ecosystem for decades to come.2 Pretty much, you help to dig a hole a few feet deep, drop in a juvenile tree, refill, brace, bank the tree with mulch, water, and repeat. No prior tree planting experience is necessary; we’ll train you. Needed tools, gloves, reflective safety vests, and vegan snacks are provided. A filled personal water bottle is strongly recommended, as access to potable water on planting sites may be limited. You should wear lightweight but sturdy outdoor clothing and closed-toed shoes. A hat and/or sunscreen, protective eyewear (eyeglasses or sunglasses), and insect repellant are recommended. Typically, a planting takes 3 hours, usually beginning around 9 or 10 AM. You must complete a volunteer release form, provided on site, before the planting begins.

Directions to planting sites, recommendations regarding nearby parking or public transportation options, and additional instructions are posted to this page about a week prior to each planting. If you plan to take part in one of the plantings noted below, please contact Terry Harpold (tharpold@ufl.edu) in advance of the scheduled date. Please also contact Terry Harpold if you have special needs regarding access to the planting site, so that appropriate accommodations may be made.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.3 So join us, get your hands a little dirty, and make some new friends among “the most wondrous products of four billion years of life.”4 You’ll feel really much better afterwards.5

The Alachua County Department of Land Conservation and Management is unaffiliated with the University of Florida. Plantings may be cancelled or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Upcoming  & Previous Plantings

(Follow links to see photos of previous plantings.)

Spring 2025

  • Saturday, January 18 – Lake Alto Park, Gainesville (details TBA)

Fall 2024

  • Saturday, December 7 – Glen Springs Elementary School, Gainesville

We will plant nine trees – southern red cedars (Juniperus silicicola) and live oaks (Quercus virginiana) – on the grounds of Glen Springs Elementary School, 2826 NW 31st Avenue, Gainesville, about a 15 minute drive from the heart of the UF campus. Parking is available at the school. Note that the bark of southern red cedars is irritating to bare skin. We recommend that you wear long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy, close-toed shoes.  The planting begins at 10 AM.

  • Saturday, November 23 – Timberway, Gainesville

We will plant about a dozen trees in this subdivision in northwest Gainesville, about a 15 minute drive from the heart of the UF campus. On-street parking is available nearby. The planting begins at 10 AM.

Spring & Summer 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

Fall 2022

Spring 2022

Fall 2021

Spring 2021

Fall 2020

Spring 2020

Fall 2019

Spring 2019

 

1 Bastin, J.–F. et al., “The Global Tree Restoration Potential,” Science 365: 76-79 (2019); Bastin, J.–F. et al., “Response to Comments on ‘The Global Tree Restauration Potential,” Science 366 (2019); Endreny, Theodore A., “Strategically Growing the Urban Forest Will Improve Our World,” Nature Communications 9: 1160 (2018).

2 Andreu, M.G. et al., Urban Forest Ecological Analysis. Report to the City of Gainesville, March 2017. City of Gainesville, Florida, 2017. Gainesville has been an Arbor Day Foundation “Tree City USA” since 1983. it was named a “Tree City of the World” in 2020.

3 You know the Lorax is right.

4 Richard Powers, in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Overstory (2019). He means the trees.

5 Wolf, Kathleen L. et al. “Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17: 4371 (2020).