Increasing Tree Canopy to Fight Climate Change

I always wondered what an eleven year old kid in wildfire-ravaged California could do about climate change. I have heard about Greta Thunberg, the student climate protests, and the differences they have made. I have heard about how President Donald Trump has rolled back several environmental regulations while temperatures continue to rise. I live in a city where there are few trees.  Baltimore, Maryland has a tree canopy coverage of 20 percent. Manhattan Beach has 3 percent, 17 percent less than Baltimore. How come we have so few trees?

I decided to write a  proposal to the City of Manhattan Beach and submitted it. To my surprise, I got a response from the Mayor Nancy Hersman! She directed me to Stephanie Katsouleas and I had a meeting with her and Ernest Area, the Urban Forester, to discuss which trees and sources to buy trees from. While fighting climate change, I also want to have a solution that immediately benefits everyone. When you think about it, you see that planting trees in parks and urban areas is a win-win situation. People get shade to shield them from sunburn, animals have more shelter, and the trees help the climate by sucking out carbon dioxide. Imagine your favorite park or place that trees are common in. Now imagine all those trees disappearing. Trees add personality to the land.


Update 2/25/2020
I would like to provide an update on my progress.  I have had a follow up meeting at Polliwog Park with Mr. Area to discuss the appropriate kind of tree species and location of planting. He also recommended Moon Valley Nursery as a place to buy trees. I am currently in the process of giving information about my project to Zarina Khairzada, a Spectrum News 1 reporter.

Thank you donors!!!
Ryan B.