MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Cooke (202) 535-2511
WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, June 29, 2010, the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), the Association of Tree Transplanting Professionals (ATTP) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will partner to transplant eleven mature trees from nurseries in the Chesapeake Bay area to Anne Beers Elementary School in Southeast Washington, DC. The project is made possible by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and will enhance the aesthetic beauty of the school, provide educational opportunities for the school’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) outdoor science classroom and enhance the ecology of the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds.
“Projects such as this help the city return to a high level of tree canopy coverage which will enhance the livability of the District while helping to meet important environmental goals,” said Christophe Tulou, Acting Director of the District Department of the Environment. “These mature trees will provide immediate canopy coverage which will provide shade, habitat for wildlife, slow stormwater runoff and educational benefits for the students of Ann Beers Elementary school.”
A variety of tree species will be planted, including a mixture of red oak, pin oak, willow oak, honey locust, red maples and bald Cyprus. “This variety reflects the diversity of foliage that is indicative of the richness of the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Roger Locandro, Interim Board member of the ATTP. “The larger trees will provide a fuller, richer learning experience for the students of Anne Beers than would seedlings as these trees will experience the full range of seasons, produce foliage and demonstrate the return of nutrients to the soil through natural decay and ultimate regeneration.”
Anne Beers Elementary School, has a student population of over 350 students in grades K-5, and was selected for this planting due to their extraordinary commitment to environmental learning as part of their STEM program. Stephanie Harris, the STEM Catalyst Coordinator for Anne Beers ES worked to acquire these trees with the full support and encouragement of Mrs. Gwendolyn Payton, Principal of Anne Beers ES. “I encouraged all of our staff and faculty to integrate STEM initiatives into our existing curriculum as we are molding the next generation of conservationists,” said Ms. Payton. “In our STEM outdoor classroom, students actively learn through discovery and hands-on lessons which will be greatly enriched by this enhanced tree canopy.”
“The ATTP is honored to partner with the District Department of the Environment, Anne Beers Elementary School, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for today’s planting,” said Will Humphreys, Vice President of Big John Manufacturing and Chairman of ATTP’s interim board. “There could be no better way to launch this important Association than through a cooperative effort to utilize the transplanting of fully grown trees for environmental education and awareness in our nation’s capital.