New York (WBNG) -New York State is making progress on a program that hopes to have a major impact on the environment.
The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, is looking to plant 25 million trees by 2033 as part of the 25 Million Trees initiative.
The program is included in the 2024 state budget, and organizers have been ramping up efforts to meet the ambitious goal.
Program coordinator Annabel Greg said the Southern Tier is the leading region so far, with more than 100,000 trees planted here to date.
Greg said that New Yorkers are already feeling the effects of climate change, making the program crucial for environmental efforts in the state.
“We know that we have to address climate change now. New Yorkers are already feeling the heat literally. With extreme heat and extreme weather being felt by communities right now, and those impacts are only expected to worsen as climate change worsens as time goes on,” explained Greg. “If we are going to get anywhere near our climate act goals of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we are going to need trees to get there.”
Greg went on to explain the benefits that trees have on the environment, from reducing carbon in the atmosphere to filtering water, preventing flooding, providing wildlife habitats and more.
To learn more about the program and view the interactive map of trees planted, check out the DEC’s website
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