Lincoln, ON – (April 18, 2024) - The Town of Lincoln is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $17,000 grant from the Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) to support the Miyawaki Mini Forests Pilot Project. This generous funding will enable the Town in partnership with OntarioGreen Conservation Association, a charitable organization, to implement a Miyawaki Mini Forest in our community, helping to naturalize urban spaces, mitigate and address climate change, and enrich biodiversity.
The Miyawaki Mini Forests Pilot Project, initiated by the Town of Lincoln’s Urban Forest Working Group, aligns with the Town’s mission of delivering services with an environmental, social, and economically resilient focus. Following directions from Town Council, the Working Group, inclusive of environmentally focused citizens' groups and staff with specialized expertise, reviewed tree-related practices and policies aligning with Council Priorities. These priorities emphasize enhancing air quality and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the growth and maintenance of the urban tree canopy.
"We are deeply grateful to the Niagara Community Foundation for their generous support of our Miyawaki Mini Forests Pilot Project," said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. "This grant will enable us to take meaningful steps towards creating a more sustainable and biodiverse urban environment for our community."
The exact location of the project is still to be determined, based on the Town’s short-list of potential sites, which will undergo further evaluation through a selection process that prioritizes protecting, restoring, and enhancing the environmental integrity of the Town’s urban forest system. This will be a community planting initiative and more details will be provided on how to get involved as a volunteer on Speak Up Lincoln.
"The Miyawaki Mini Forests Pilot Project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient community," said the Town’s CAO and Working Group Member, Michael Kirkopoulos.
The Town of Lincoln gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the David S. Howes Fund at the Niagara Community Foundation; a public foundation serving the people of Niagara since 2000. NCF connects donors to communities and charities to resources through permanent endowment funds, providing grants to eligible charitable organizations in culture, health, education, environment, recreation and social service sectors. NCF turns intention into impact.
For more information and updates on the Miyawaki Mini Forests Pilot Project, please visit speakuplincoln.ca/urban-forest.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230