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YSU students grow legacy

From left, Youngstown State University students Maguire Franko, Gianna Pattaglia and Christina Poturilla, work together on a project that involves killing grasses without using chemicals to determine how much better trees will grow. The project is part of the YSU Legacy Forest Program that will have a tree planted for every freshman coming into the university.

YOUNGSTOWN — More than 20 Youngstown State University students from across Trumbull and Mahoning counties were getting their hands dirty on Thursday as they dug in an uneven field while planting 600 trees.

They were busy on nearly an acre at the corner of North Hine and Oak streets, east of the YSU campus.

Their project is part of the YSU Legacy Forest Program that will have a tree planted for every freshman coming into the university.

“We are looking to have 2,000 trees planted around the county this year,” said Lauren Schroeder, a YSU emeritus professor.

Schroeder, who taught environmental science at YSU, began discussing this project more than a year ago. Colleen McLean, a YSU associate professor in physics, astronomy, geology and environmental science, latched onto the idea, encouraging her students to become involved.

“We want to engage students in climate mitigation,” Schroeder said. “Getting them involved in planting trees and watching them grow during their time at the university may be a touchstone that will encourage them to come back and stay involved in improving the environment.”

The project members are working with the Mahoning County Land Bank to locate other areas where trees may be planted.

Planting 2,000 seedling trees will require about five acres.

Schroeder said there are thousands of acres of public and private vacant lands throughout the Mahoning Valley that are suitable for the establishment of micro-forests.

CLIMATE CHANGE

“Climate change is a critical problem that must be addressed,” Schroeder said. “We have to start addressing it now. We have a window of about 12 years to make significant changes.”

Schroeder said it is important to plant trees on university properties, empty lots and at individual homes to absorb carbon and allow the trees to produce oxygen.

Canfield resident Kayti Atzel, 21, a junior, said the project is providing individual students with an opportunity to help. “A lot of us can’t do this on our own,” she said.

Sophomore students Gianna Pattaglia and Christina Porturilla worked on their honors project, determining what the impact of killing grasses without using chemicals would be on the trees being planted.

“When chemicals are used, they leech into the soil, possibly impacting the trees growing in the area,” said Pattaglia, a Mcdonald resident. “Our project will allow students to study if there is a difference in the growth of trees planted in soil in which grasses were killed using chemicals, and those trees in which chemicals were not used.”

Pattaglia wants to be an attorney focusing on environmental issues.

Porturilla, a sophomore and Niles resident, emphasized being interested in climate change has nothing to do with politics, but with following science and data.

She plans to be an environmental writer.

McLean said this is the first tree planting project of its kind being done by a university that they’ve been able to locate.

“We hope this project is a template and an inspiration for other Mahoning Valley organizations,” Schroeder said.

rsmith@tribtoday.com

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