Daemen College and Amherst are working toward an ambitious goal of planting 1 million new trees in the town over the next five years.
That effort started Thursday, as the school planted a new tree on its Main Street campus.
Daemen President Gary Olson was joined by Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa and representatives of the Sierra Club, Daemen Environmental Club, Amherst Conservation Advisory Council, the University at Buffalo Sikh Student Association and the Amherst and Williamsville Environmental Alliance.
“The Sierra Club Niagara Group enthusiastically supports Daemen’s plans to increase trees on campus and the Town of Amherst’s efforts to preserve and expand green space, control sprawl, and to create a more healthy and walkable community,” said Daemen Professor Emeritus Ellen Banks of the Sierra Club Niagara Group.
The planting is kicking off the school's "22 for 22" cmapaign, to raise $22 million by its 75th anniversary in 2022. Daemen will plant 22 mature trees on its campus by then.
The town has committed $100,000 in its 2020 budget to replant portions of parks and re-tree neighborhoods that have lost tree canopies over the years.
“We are also calling on residents, developers, and property managers to participate in our town-wide effort to re-green Amherst," said Kulpa.
