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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: April 18, 2008
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM TO HOLD ARBOR DAY CEREMONY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 25

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that the state's Arbor Day ceremony this year will be held on Friday, April 25 at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick.

The 10 a.m. ceremony will include a speaking program, an arbor day presentation by Richard (Blue)Wheeler's sixth grade class from the Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, and the planting of a red maple. The planting is a prelude an Arbor Day Fair that will be held Saturday at the same location, where the RI Tree Council, in conjunction with DEM's Division of Forest Environment and the Federation of Garden Clubs will plant 100 trees to create an acre of forest.

The conservation of trees as a valuable natural resource serves to enhance Rhode Island by reducing air pollution, stabilizing soils, reducing water pollution by absorbing pollutants, enhancing property values, reducing noise and visual pollution, providing protection from the sun by reducing glare, reducing the heat island effect by shading buildings and parking lots, and enhancing the aesthetics and general quality of life in the state.

Friday's speaking program will include the award of this year's America the Beautiful grants, which will result in the planting of over 170 trees throughout much of the state. In the past 17 years, DEM's Division of Forest Environment has awarded more than $2 million in America the Beautiful grants, matched by over $3.4 million in local funds.

This year's 11 grants, totaling$110,900 and matched by $132,000 in local funds, will be used for tree planting, educational programs, and comprehensive street tree inventories.
  • Town of Bristol: $4,400, matched by $$6,600, to complete the Bristol Highlands management program and plant 13 trees.


  • Town of Jamestown: $3,500, matched by $5,470, to conduct a GIS tree inventory.


  • Little Compton Tree Committee: $3,000, matched by $4,500, to conduct a public tree inventory and for educational outreach.


  • Middletown Tree Commission: $4,000, matched by $6,000, to add 22 trees.


  • Narragansett Tree Board: $4,000, matched by $6,000, for a central area inventory, volunteer training, and to plant 15 trees.


  • City of Newport: $5,000, matched by $7,938, to update its tree inventory and add 10 trees.


  • Town of North Providence: $3,000, matched by $4,500, to add 18 trees.


  • RI Tree Council: $70,000, matched by $70,000, to continue their outreach programs and technical assistance to the urban forestry community.


  • Tiverton Tree Commission: $5,000, matched by $7,500, to add 25 trees.


  • Town of Warren: $4,000, matched by $6,000, to plant 50 trees.


  • City of Warwick: $5,000, matched by $7,500, to plant 20 trees and to work on the city's tree nursery.

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