Bay Area nonprofit re-planting trees lost to recent storms

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the grassroots organization Take MAR is on a mission to replenish trees and bring greenery back to Bay Area communities.

Tara Hubbard, president of Take MAR, says work has continued for months near St. Pete's Warehouse Arts District.

"Right now we're on the Pinellas Trail," said Hubbard. "This is a beautiful, linear, green space here in our county. We have activated it with over 300 trees planted here."

Take MAR is re-planting trees along the Pinellas Trail as part of the ongoing effort to replenish greenery in the Tampa Bay area.

Take MAR is re-planting trees along the Pinellas Trail as part of the ongoing effort to replenish greenery in the Tampa Bay area.

That's just one area where Hubbard and her team of volunteers have been planting trees.

"They help cool our environment. They help create better, breathable air," said Hubbard. "There's a plethora of impacts that the trees provide for not only our environment, but for ourselves and our communities."

Over the past two years, Take MAR has planted 500 trees in the Tampa Bay area – and they're not stopping anytime soon.

Take MAR has planted 500 trees in the Tampa Bay area over the past two years. (Courtesy: TAKE Mar.)

Take MAR has planted 500 trees in the Tampa Bay area over the past two years. (Courtesy: TAKE Mar.)

"We love to be able to engage the community by getting involved with these initiatives, coming out, planting these trees as a group. It's something that we're very passionate about," Hubbard explained. "We believe the more people that are connected with our environment, the more they'll love their environment and become pro-environmental stewards themselves.

Their next big project is a massive tree-planting event at the Lower Green Swamp Preserve in Hillsborough County. The goal is ambitious: 1,000 trees and 500 plants in one day.

"The storms had incredible impacts on our tree canopy," said Hubbard. "A lot of trees were lost. Some estimates are as high as 20%, which is devastating. I know St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area had a lot of tree canopy goals to actually increase our tree canopy. So those hurricanes did have quite a negative impact."

Take MAR is stepping up its goals with upcoming ambitious re-planting projects. (Courtesy: TAKE Mar.)

Take MAR is stepping up its goals with upcoming ambitious re-planting projects. (Courtesy: TAKE Mar.)

Take MAR's impact hasn't gone unnoticed. The organization was honored with the prestigious Urban Forestry Award last year, a testament to their greening efforts.

"We really believe in the power of trees. Trees are beautiful for our environment. They help our environment," Hubbard said.

For more information on TAKE Mar and the organization's upcoming events, click here.

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