Conservation Celebrities Gather in Central Park for STIHL Tour des Trees

Conservation Celebrities Gather in Central Park for

 

America’s Largest Fundraiser for Tree Research

 

STIHL Tour des Trees kicks off July 19 in New York City

 

 

WHAT:            America’s largest fundraiser for tree research, the STIHL Tour des Trees is a weeklong, 500-mile cross-country cycling event throughout the Northeast United States. On Sunday, July 19, the Tour cyclists arrive in Central Park for a kick off event that includes celebrity book signings, tree climbing demonstrations, potted tree giveaways and fun, educational programs for the whole family.

 

 

Approximately 70 cyclists ride in the Tour to benefit the Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund, an international charitable organization dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees and the environment. Since its inception in 1992, the Tour has generated more than $4.1 million and has funded a host of diverse projects, including a major analysis of recently-planted New York City street trees to determine what can be done to help new transplants live.

 

 

The tour travels through three parks designed by world renowned landscape designer and father of American landscape architecture, Fredrick Law Olmsted, including New York’s Central Park. 

 

 

WHO:            &nb sp; Chuck Leavell: Rolling Stones keyboardist and a noted environmentalist, Leavell recently co-founded the environmental national Web news site Mother Nature Network (mnn.com) and runs a Georgia tree farm, Charlane Plantation, for which he has received several national conservation awards. Leavell is the author of three books on conservation. www.chuckleavell.com, www.mnn.com

 

 

P. Allen Smith: Garden expert and TODAY show garden contributor, Smith has two television series on gardening and is a best-selling author of the “Garden Home” book series. www.pallensmith.com

 

 

Mark Chisholm: Two-time world champion tree climber and a world record holder, Chisholm is a tree care specialist who travels around the world consulting and educating on tree care. http://stihlusa.com/events/events_chisholm.html.

 

 

 

Judith Hope Blau: A successful children’s book author and product designer, Blau created the Treetures Environmental Education Program in 1984 as a pro bono endeavor. With whimsical characters dedicated to carrying the message of tree planting and care,

the program promotes activities held throughout the country that combine environmental education with entertainment for children.  www.treetures.com  

 

 

WHEN:            Sunday, July 19

 

9:30 AM

 

   

 

WHERE:         Central Park, New York City

 

            &nb sp;           Lenox Avenue entrance to the Park, northwest of the Harlem Meer

 

 

MORE INFO:  www.stihltourdestrees.org

 

 

SPONSORS: Corporate sponsorships offset the cost of food, housing and logistics along the Tour route. The sponsors of the 2009 event include title sponsor STIHL Inc., crown sponsor National Grid, partners Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Duke Energy, Bartlett Tree Experts and Northeast STIHL, and platinum sponsor The Davey Tree Expert Co.

 

 

About the TREE Fund:

 

The TREE Fund’s mission is to identify and fund projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees, and the environment.

 

 

The TREE Fund has supported research that has led to important developments in:

 

• Understanding air pollution reduction and carbon sequestration by trees

 

• Determining the costs and benefits of urban trees

 

• Improving conditions for tree growth in difficult sites

 

• Strategies to manage diseases and pests that affect urban trees

 

 

For more information, visit www.treefund.org

About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com

STIHL is also pleased to support the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), National FFA, Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), and the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).