Detroit Plants 100 Sequoias for Earth Day Project

Detroit marked Earth Day by launching a project to plant about 100 cloned giant sequoias in a neighborhood impacted by interstate pollution. The initiative is led by Arboretum Detroit and Archangel Ancient Tree Archive and aims to turn blighted vacant lots into green urban forests. These saplings are clones of ancient trees from California’s Sierra Nevada, intended to help preserve the species as wildfires intensify in their native range. Detroit serves as the pilot city for the Giant Sequoia Filter Forest, with expansions planned for Los Angeles, Oakland, and London. The project involves local schoolchildren in stewardship and aligns with existing recycling initiatives, such as reusing old road materials. Organizers note the sequoias’ resilience to disease and insects and their ability to improve air quality and create lasting urban canopies.