Mount Joy woman to head project to plant 10 million trees in Pennsylvania in 6 years

A Mount Joy woman has been chosen to head Pennsylvania’s ambitious project to plant 10 million trees along waterways and streets by the end of 2025.

Brenda Sieglitz was named to manage the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, one of many partners in the federal-state-private initiative whose aim is to reduce pollutants flowing off farms and streets into the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Lancaster, along with York, Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties, has been targeted for the tree plantings because of agricultural runoff.

There have been eight tree-planting events in Lancaster County since the project was kicked off in April. Statewide, some 31,000 trees have been planted in more thaan 70 events.

+1 

A tree-planting by volunteers.

CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

The numbers of trees planted will pick up as more partners come on board and tree projects already done by private groups are tracked and counted, said B.J. Small, spokesman for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

“We know there is a lot more out there and the numbers will go up,” he said.

Already, he added, there are double the number of tree plantings scheduled for this spring as there was in the inaugural spring.

Sieglitz has worked in the private sector in project management, business development initiatives, sales and marketing.

She has held leadership and mentor roles with the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Chamber, Team Sarcoma Keepin’ it Kevin, and the National Parks Service. She is co-chair of the Lancaster County Conservancy’s Riverlands Trail Festival and is a certified Pennsylvania Master Naturalist.

The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is a collaborative effort, coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, of national, regional,  state and local agencies, as well as conservation organizations, watershed groups, conservancies, outdoors enthusiasts, businesses and individuals willing to plant trees.

Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Among the partners are the state departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources.

“I look forward to bringing together people from the relationships that I have nurtured over my past decade of work in the private sector and volunteering within several nonprofits,” Sieglitz said.

“The Partnership will succeed in part due to the mutual respect we all have for each other and our shared belief that Pennsylvania will once again flourish with trees that are vital to clean water.”

Officials involved in the Chesapeake Bay cleanup believe that trees planted along streets, streams and other sensitive landscapes in Pennsylvania are among the most cost-effective tools for cleaning and protecting waterways.

The canopy and deep roots of trees soak up water and stabilize soil and streambanks.

For more information or to sign up for tree-planting events, click here, or call 717-234-5550.