Cleveland Metroparks and The Lubrizol Foundation today announced a three-year partnership to make the park district’s forests more resilient to the impacts of climate change. With funding from The Lubrizol Foundation, Cleveland Metroparks Natural Resources team will initiate a new research effort, including calculating the amount of CO2 captured by its trees, and studying carbon storage and sequestration across the forested areas of the park district.
“The Lubrizol Foundation is proud to support Cleveland Metroparks on this important project that truly sets the direction for a more sustainable future in communities many of our employees call home,” said Elizabeth Grove, Lubrizol Chief Sustainability Officer and President, The Lubrizol Foundation. “The Foundation’s priorities include aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to preserve life on land and counter the effects of climate change. This partnership is one of many that allows us to advance those priorities while investing in communities that have supported Lubrizol for decades, many since our founding in 1928.”
Cleveland Metroparks spans more than 24,000 acres, including approximately 16,000 acres of forests. According to a study by the
U.S. Forest Service Landscape Change Research Group, more than a third of our region’s tree species will be less able to survive here by the end of the century. As trees are one of the most powerful tools to combat climate change by capturing and storing harmful CO2 from the air, their protection is essential to the health of the region.
Using the research and information generated by the project, Cleveland Metroparks will create guidelines and information about best forestry and conservation techniques to use to preserve and continue the important work of trees in this area to counter the effects of climate change. This information will be shared with other organizations, municipalities and parks to help them work together to preserve the environment in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
“Some of our most iconic places – Bradley Woods, A.B. Williams Woods, Harriet Keeler Memorial Woods – are defined by their forests,” said Brian M. Zimmerman, Cleveland Metroparks Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful to The Lubrizol Foundation for their support of our efforts to strategically manage our forests for the future, bring ecological benefits to Northeast Ohio and provide a roadmap for our conservation partners across the greater region.”
About Cleveland Metroparks
Established in 1917, Cleveland Metroparks spans more than 24,000 acres across Northeast Ohio including 18 reservations, more than 300 miles of trails, eight golf courses, eight lakefront parks, dining and retail venues, and nationally acclaimed Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
About Lubrizol
The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, leverages its unmatched science to unlock immense possibilities at the molecular level, driving sustainable and measurable results to help the world Move Cleaner, Create Smarter and Live Better. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol owns and operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices around the world and has approximately 8,800 employees. For more information, visit
www.Lubrizol.com.
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