Photo: Courtesy of Mayor Michelle Wu
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Mass Audubon teamed up on Friday to plant the saplings of one of the city's first "microforests" in Mattapan, which aims to nurture a canopy as part of the newly created Tree Alliance.
Following recommendations from the city's first-ever Urban Forest Plan is just the start of new city-sanctioned efforts from Mass Audubon to work with other nonprofits and encourage more green life on private properties. Officials say 60-percent of Boston's tree canopies are on private land, and the Tree Alliance will help those without expertise keep their foliage thriving.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville was there for the Friday event, to hear from Pat Spence of the Mass Audubon Council who said hundreds of native trees, shrubs, and perennials are going into the ground to address a dire need in the city.
"Last year was just too hot in the city," Spence said.
At the Boston Nature Center, Mayor Wu got hands on— plunging her hands into the soil to plant a sugar maple tree.
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“Increasing the number of trees in Boston will enhance our neighborhoods’ livability, health and resilience benefiting both our climate and our residents. I’m grateful to our partners at Mass Audubon and Speak for the Trees for their support," Wu said.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports.
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