Most of us can say that we are troubled by the global climate crisis and its effect on our quality of lives and negative impact on our communities. As Minnesotans, we’ve seen changes to our ecosystems, stronger storms and intense flooding and higher temperatures over time. More and more, these changes can be directly linked to the rise in greenhouse gases. In the Twin Cities, annual average temperatures increased by 3.2° F from 1951 to 2012, which was faster than both national and global rates of increase. Greater Minnesota is projected to see similar increases. Plus, we’ve learned that communities of color often are most at risk to suffer the consequences of climate change.
This is why we spearheaded a talented climate design group that has met regularly over the past year to help think about ways that ServeMinnesota can use the power of AmeriCorps to help with climate change mitigation. We also collaborated with incredibly important thought partners at the University of Minnesota Department of Forestry, Minnesota Green Corps, Tree Trust and others with the hope of expanding upon the crucial work being done already by Green Corps and Conservation Corps.
The culmination of this work will launch this fall as the Community Forestry Corps. Our partners at Reading and Math Inc. are able to administer and implement the program with us.
AmeriCorps members in Community Forestry Corps will serve at nonprofit organizations and public agencies with a focus on preserving and increasing tree canopy. Planting and caring for trees is a powerful climate mitigation practice, and we are excited to see how much good this Corps will do for our state.
Would you or someone you know be interested in serving in Community Forestry Corps? You can learn more about the benefits and apply here.
