(Miami, Florida)—City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, along with Commission Vice Chairman Joe Sanchez, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis Moss, the Miami Green Commission and a group of distinguished guests will celebrate the Tree Summit at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

The day’s activities will begin at 10 a.m. with a tour of Jungle Island. Speakers from different organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation and the Florida State Department of Agriculture will discuss information, among other topics, on how a municipality can be designated a Tree City USA. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ed Gilman from the University of Florida.  A press conference is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m.

The Home Depot Foundation will present the city with a check for $100,000.  The monies will be applied towards the purchasing and planting of trees and the increase and conservation of Miami’s tree canopy.  The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to improving the health of local communities by supporting the development of affordable, healthy homes for working families and by the strategic planting and preservation of trees in parks, in schoolyards and along city streets.