Matching Project Challenge! 

This spring, students from AP Environmental Science classes at Shadle Park, North Central, and Lewis & Clark High Schools participated in the 1^st Annual Ponderosa Pine & Native Species Matching Project Challenge!  Students went door-to-door in their neighborhoods, educating residents about the importance of native vegetation and taking orders for free seedlings (Ponderosa pine, mock orange, or oceanspray).  Students secured a total of 320 seedling orders, delivered seedlings to residents in late-April, and matched the total by planting 320 trees in locations near their schools.  Shadle Park won this year's challenge by soliciting the most trees, and will defend the coveted "Golden Cones" trophy until next year…

Ponderosa Pine Project

Ponderosa pines are not only a critical component of our local ecosystem but are a defining character in our community.  Ponderosa pines are our most common tree.  They are adapted to our unique arid environment (our annual rainfall averages 16 inches) and provide habitat for our local wildlife.  They also characterize our city skyline.

The intent of this project is to protect Ponderosa pines in our community.  Doing this at the small scale homeowner level is just as important as the large scale developer level.  We know that trees provide unique benefits including absorption of stormwater runoff, energy reduction, lowering noise and air pollution, and increasing quality of life.  Protecting our existing tree canopy and incorporating tree preservation into development practices is crucial to preserving our native pines.

For more information about the Ponderosa Pine Project contact Kat Hall at khall@landscouncil.org or 509-209-2403