Scotties ReLeaf USA Tree Initiative Expands with Food Lion and Charlotte Clean and Green

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The dual successes of an innovative environmental education program and the planting of 1,500 trees by 350 volunteers in the inaugural year of the Scotties ReLeaf USA partnership has led to an expansion of the program in the Charlotte Mecklenburg area. Scotties ReLeaf USA is a partnership between Scotties facial tissues and American Forests, the national conservation organization for trees and forests, who are partnering here with Creek ReLeaf, a watershed protection initiative, and area public schools.

The partnership will showcase its accomplishments and coming work at Charlotte Clean and Green 2010, the premier environmental and sustainability event in the Charlotte Mecklenburg region at the Central Campus of Central Piedmont Community College on Saturday, April 17th. Scotties has selected Food Lion as its retail partner in Charlotte and has created events in and out of store during the Earth Day time period. Scotties will also donate $1.00 to Scotties ReLeaf for every new Scotties Fan on Facebook in April, up to $10,000.

The next phase of the program on June 5th will take high school teachers and students to the site of the fall planting to map and measure the ecosystem services of the new trees using computer software CITYgreen which was introduced to them in the classroom last fall. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up at Charlotte Clean and Green 2010 for the second round of Creek ReLeaf tree planting sponsored by Scotties ReLeaf USA that will occur this November.

The fall project planted trees along the Torrence Creek Greenway in Huntersville to create a natural filter for the creek which flows directly to Mountain Island Lake, the primary source of drinking water for the city of Charlotte. It was organized by Creek ReLeaf: a collaboration of the Charlotte Public Tree Fund, Charlotte Mecklenburg Stormwater Services, the Center for Sustainability at Central Piedmont Community College, and the Sierra Club Central Piedmont Group.

American Forests work encompasses planting trees, calculating the value of urban forests, fostering environmental education, and improving national public policy for trees and forests. Our Global ReLeaf campaign will plant 5 million trees this year.

SOURCE American Forests