Holden Forests & Gardens Public Statement on Climate Change Holden Forests & Gardens acknowledges and recognizes climate change and its impacts and is taking actions to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change.
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he climate is currently changing at an unprecedented rate and will continue to do so into the future. This ongoing climate change is the direct result of human activities and is having significant and measurable impacts on the natural world here in Northeast Ohio and around the globe. These impacts are reducing biodiversity, affecting the resilience and function of ecosystems and impacting human health and welfare.
The current changes in our climate are the result of increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are now at their highest level in at least 800,000 years. At least half of current warming can be attributed to greenhouses gases produced by human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.
What is HF&G doing to combat climate change? F&G manages for resilient and biodiverse forests that H will be better able to withstand future climate changes. HF&G owns more than 3,000 acres of natural areas that remove (sequester) approximately 14,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year (i-Tree estimates, courtesy of the Davey Institute, U.S. tons reported). cientists at HF& G actively conduct research to enhance S our understanding of effective forest management practices now and as the climate continues to change. Our People for Trees campaign seeks to increase tree canopy cover in Cleveland, mitigating the urban heat island effect and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. This will create a greener, healthier environment in our communities. F&G is changing its general operation over the next H three years to reduce CO2 emissions. Actions include: oE ncouraging staff to carpool, take mass transit or telecommute when possible. oA ll new building or renovation will reduce energy use by at least 25%. oO n-site food sales will shift to reduce carbon emissions. At least 40% of menu items will be vegan or vegetarian, and we will source 10% of our offering from a 100-mile radius of our campuses.
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Join us in our commitment. This is what you can do. J oin our People for Trees campaign and plant a tree in your yard or community. Trees help mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the environment. Our Tree Selection Guide is a comprehensive list of trees for our region compiled by HF&G experts. Visit our website at holdenfg.org/resources/tree-selection-guide. or individuals who own several acres or more of forested F lands, our Working Woods program offers advice and stateof-the-art recommendations for how to improve your woodlot so trees thrive now and into the future.
