Consul General of Israel Ofer Bavly, Mayor Manny Diaz, Consul General of Mexico Juan Manuel Gutierrez Tinoco, Consul General of the United Kingdom Keith Allan, and Consul General of Uruguay Alvaro Gallardo prepare to plant a tree on the grounds of Archbishop Curley High School. Photo: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami.

(Miami, Florida)-  In celebration of National Arbor Day, City of Miami’s GreenMiami Initiative today held a tree planting in Little Haiti/Buena Vista East area with the assistance of Archbishop Curley High School. Mayor Manny Diaz and Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez were there to launch the effort and thank partners and volunteers for their efforts to increase canopy in Miami. 

Nearly 100 volunteers joined in the tree planting effort, including: the consulates from Haiti, Uruguay, Mexico, Israel, and United Kingdom, as well as partners from Hands on Miami, Operation Green Leaves, Citizens for a Better South Florida, students from Archbishop Curley High School and residents from the Brentwood Homeowners Association. More than 200 trees were planted throughout the Little Haiti/Buena Vista East neighborhood. The Florida native, drought-tolerant, and wind resistant trees the neighborhood will enjoy are Gumbo Limbo, Mahogany, Wild Tamarind, Live Oak, and Silver Buttonwood.  Funding for the Arbor Day tree planting is provided by the American Express Root for Our City Campaign.

Mayor Manny Diaz created the Miami Green Commission in 2006 to allow citizen input and expert insight on the city’s green policies. Last year, the Green Commission and city staff finalized a city-wide tree master plan to increase the City of Miami’s tree canopy to 30% within the next ten years through tree plantings and extensive education. The tree planting and protection campaign, called GreenMiami, encourages neighborhood groups and individual to plant and preserve our urban canopy. More information at www.ourgreenmiami.org

For additional information, call the Miami Office of Sustainable Initiatives at 305-416-1551.