Help Save Our Tree Canopy

Taking Root connects you to information and resources to save existing trees and plant new ones.

Make a Donation or Volunteer

Take Action for Trees

Watch the Video About Energy Saving Trees—2min.

Individuals, communities, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations are integral to improving our region’s unique and threatened tree canopy. Taking Root helps you take action.

Why take action?

Our trees are under siege

Emerging threats are shrinking our tree canopy, diminishing native species and impeding forest regeneration.
Our region’s tree loss will have long-term impacts on our communities, natural resources and pocketbooks.
Individual and collaborative actions are critical for combatting tree threats and reversing or offsetting tree loss.

Benefits of trees and forests

Positively affect human health, emotional well-being and social behavior
Enrich our communities, save energy and increase property values
Protect environmental resources we depend on

What can you do to offset the many threats to our trees?

Collaborative Projects & Events

Include tree-planting in your next community service event … use Earth Day, public events and special occasions to spread awareness of tree benefits and needs … contact Taking Root for help with your projects and plans.

Collaborative options

Energy-saving Trees

For communities selected each spring and fall, homeowners can receive a free tree and use a customized online mapping program to determine where to plant their tree for the greatest energy savings.

Plant and save

Make a Difference Day (MaDD)

Organize a tree-planting event this October for your organization or community by contacting the MaDD team for information on fund-raising, its annual tree sale and other help.

Organize an event

Mini-grants

Tree-planting projects in need of financial or manpower assistance can submit an online application if projects are “shovel-ready” and community-based (may involve street trees, schools, nonprofits, parks, churches, public campuses).

Apply for a Mini-Grant

Taking Root Partners

Your business, organization or community can become a Taking Root Partner that provides services or resources to our mission.

Become a partner

RegisTree

Make your newly planted tree(s) count toward Taking Root’s goal of 2 million new trees — one for everyone in the region! Total number of trees planted is updated periodically.

Register your tree

Trees Planted

Great Tree Summit

Attend this annual event to hear about local initiatives addressing the tree crisis, to meet with tree experts and tree lovers and to receive new perspective on trees. Add your name to our mailing list for an invitation and for occasional updates from Taking Root.

The great green canopy that we have inherited from time immemorial is under siege. If we lose it, we are all diminished in ways now unimaginable. If we preserve it, we will have prevailed in a long and meaningful struggle. That’s what Taking Root is all about. That and ‘connectivity’ … working together.

Polk Laffoon

Bough Down, Cincinnati Magazine

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Chinese Proverb

Professional Development Events:

Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association ‘Credits and Coffee’

Worthington, Oh Jan 13-14

Credits and Coffee Event Details

Indiana Arborist Association ‘Annual Conference’

Indianapolis, In Jan 21-23

Annual Conference Information

Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association ‘Winter Conference and Expo’

Louisville, Ky Jan 22-23

Tri State Green Industry Conference

Sharonville, Oh Feb 6

Green Industry Conference Information

Indiana Green Expo

Indianapolis, In Feb 12-13

Green Expo Event Details

Kentucky Arborist Association ‘Annual Conference’

Louisville, Ky Feb 20-21

Annual Conference Ticketing and Information

Ohio Tree Care Conference

Dayton, Oh Feb 25-27

Ohio Tree Care Conference Event Details

Tree Care Tips

Help keep the trees we have!

Keep them free of climbing winter creeper and English ivy and mulch by the 3x3x3 rule — 3 inches of mulch 3 inches from the trunk in a circle at least 3 feet wide. More tree care tips

News, Impact & Events

Duke Energy Powerful Communities Grant

Nov 1, 2019

We received a $10,000 Duke Energy grant to create powerful communities through our Energy Saving Trees initiative. This will allow us to activate the program in Hamilton, Fairfield and Norwood, Spring 2020. Stay tuned for more detailsRegister your...

Dec. 6: Regional Tree Canopy Professionals Seminar

Oct 30, 2019

CEUs for ISA, ASLA, AICP 8am Coffee and Registration | Lunch Provided | Happy HourOKI BOARD ROOM - SAWYER POINT BUILDING720 East Pete Rose Way, Suite 420, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202#CincyTreeCanopyPROGRAM 8:00 AM Registration and Coffee 8:30 AM Welcome Remarks 8:45 AM...