Community Corner
2011 Urban Forestry Festival Puts Spotlight on Environment
Environmentalists from across the city gather at The Outdoor Activity Center for fun and knowledge.
Environmentalists and supporters of The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) gathered in southwest Atlanta this past weekend to celebrate the 2011 Urban Forestry Festival.
The April 2 festival at the Outdoor Activity Center, 1442 Richland Rd., consisted of vendors with solutions to help the community and the environment. Activities included hikes, facilitated by youth of American Cities Mentorship Program for Sustainability (ACMPS), highlighted by a stop by "Grandfather Beecher," an over 100 years old tree, a field where a" Negro" baseball team used to play, and a huge garden in the process of being restored to provide produce for the Atlanta Food Bank. Guests munched on free hot dogs, hamburgers and vegi-burgers all during the celebration.
Simply put, WAWA is concerned about clean water in the environment for drinking, cooking food and taking showers and baths.
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One major concern is Atlanta's access to Lake Lanier's water, which may be restricted once the Circuit Court of Appeals makes a ruling. For more information on this, visit.
At Saturday's festival, Outdoor Activity Center Director Darryl Haddock said that Atlanta does not have any natural lakes which would serve to catch water for sustaining the city. Atlanta has the smallest watershed in the country relative to its population.
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Haddock said increasing green areas would increase the ability for water to be caught and allow nature to begin balancing itself which would increase the natural water supply of Atlanta.
Residents can assist with this process by having more natural spaces for plants, trees and animals. The natural process of the lives of the wild and nature help with the natural retention of water in the land. Plants, trees, rocks and animals hold and retain water. when they die naturally their water is released and assist the atmosphere with supplying water to areas.
When we plant trees, plants, flowers and allow greenspace where we live, we assist with this process. Taking time to allow growth can make a difference in our community.
For more information about The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance or to make a tax-deductable donation, visit: http://www.wawaonline.org.
For more information about , see our directory listing in Cascade Patch or call 404-756-1858.