September 18, 2015 – New Jersey – The New Jersey Tree Foundation’s Renaissance Trees Program began its tree planting season on Thursday September 10th with a 20 tree event in Jersey City. The New Jersey Tree Foundation’s Urban Airshed Reforestation Program’s season will begin on Saturday, September 19th by planting 20 trees in North Camden. This fall, the New Jersey Tree Foundation will plant over 400 trees in urban communities with help from city 
residents and volunteers.
“The goal of our Programs are two-fold,” explains NJ Tree Foundation Senior Program Director Jessica Franzini. “We seek to improve the local environment while empowering and uniting the community through tree planting. The work of our Programs revitalizes neighborhoods and city environments.”
The programs she speaks of are the NJ Tree Foundation’s Urban Airshed Reforestation Program and Renaissance Trees Program. The former plants trees in urban communities in southern New Jersey, mainly in Camden, while the later does the same in northern New Jersey, mainly in the City of Newark.
“The Renaissance Trees Program has worked in Newark since 2006 to plant more than 2,200 trees and the Urban Airshed Reforestation Program has planted 5,565 in Camden since 2002,” said NJ Tree Foundation Program Director Elena López. “Recently, we have begun to expand our work beyond Newark and Camden. Most cities in New Jersey lack a healthy tree canopy, so there is a lot of opportunity for us to help.”
Trees are an important part of a city’s infrastructure. They assist with stormwater management and improve air and water quality. They also offer a number of social benefits. Trees provide shade for residents to relax outside in front of their homes, add beauty and nature to cities, increase property values, and some tree species provide fresh fruit. The NJ Tree Foundation has seen trees unite neighbors as its community-based tree planting events are initiated by local residents.
“Any resident of Camden or Newark can apply to us to receive a free street tree,” Franzini explains, “And anyone that doesn’t mind getting dirty can help us by volunteering to plant trees. We plant rain or shine so sometimes it can get messy but it is always a lot of fun.”
During the fall of 2015, the New Jersey Tree Foundation will host nine planting events in Camden, five in Newark, two in Jersey City, and one in Gloucester City. Volunteers and media are invited to attend the planting events. Please RSVP in advance to Jessica Franzini for Camden/Gloucester City events, jfranzini.njtf@gmail.com or (856) 287-4488 and to Elena López, elopez@njtreefoundation.org or (609) 439-1755 for Newark/Jersey City events.
Events are held rain or shine. Come dressed for the weather in clothes suitable for getting dirty and wear closed-toe shoes. The NJ Tree Foundation will provide all tools needed for planting. A meeting location and directions will be provided upon RSVP.
