Michigan GREEN (Group for a Renewable Energy Efficient Nation) and Dell, Inc. announce a tree planting event to complement the recent sale of 4,000 Dell computers to the state of Michigan.  Students from Alto, Bushnell, Cherry Creek, and Murray Lake Elementary Schools will vie for the honor of planting 1,000 red and white oak and sugar maple saplings at the Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center  and the adjacent Wege Natural Area in Lowell.

CEO Michael Dell wants his company to take the lead in reducing the environmental impact of technology worldwide.  Dell's representatives asked Michigan GREEN for help in creating an event that would give something back to the citizens of Michigan by offsetting the carbon footprint of each Dell computer purchased by the state.   The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, which manages the Wege Natural Area, and the environmental education center were already planning to harvest several acres of the pine plantation this summer, and their leadership teams were excited to participate in this event.  Michigan GREEN staff has been working with Lowell school officials, education center staff and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to organize the event. 

On Friday, October 9th, 100 Lowell students will gather at the center to learn firsthand how to replant a harvested area of forest.  The red and white oak and sugar maple seedlings are indigenous to the area, and the random planting will replace the current pine plantation configuration at the center and restore the native mixed oak forest.  The land conservancy and the environmental education center are a unique partnership that work together to show the importance of both Michigan's natural areas and the management of our natural resources.

                  
         Red Oak                                White Oak                       Sugar Maple

This event, co-funded by Michigan GREEN and Dell, is just one step in the commitment of both organizations toward advocating for and practicing global stewardship.  The tree planting is part of Michigan GREEN's Project EverGREEN Schools, a national initiative that creates project-based learning opportunities for students that focus on environmental and energy-related issues.  Learn more at www.michigangreen.org/trees.