MADISON — Madison eighth-grade students left a lasting legacy of their celebration recently with forest industry leader UPM’s global Plant-a-Tree initiative. The students planted 500 trees along the Kennebec River at the Madison Boat landing. Several community partners came together for the afternoon event sponsored by UPM Madison including the Maine Tree Foundation, Kohl’s Department Stores and Plum Creek Timber Company, according to a press release.

“We are pleased to have this opportunity to work with the students, and the plantings we do today will enhance and protect the beauty of the shoreline along the Kennebec River for many years to come,” said Dan Mallet, UPM Madison manager of sustainability, said in the release.

Sherry Huber, Maine Tree Foundation executive director, welcomed the students saying in the release, “We are excited to be part of this celebration and thrilled that the students are here. Our foundation’s mission is to educate and advocate for the sustainable use of the forest and one of the ways we achieve this is through partnering with the forest community to sponsor school events such as this.”

Students were led by Mark Doty, Community Affairs Manager from Plum Creek Timber Company in the planting of 500 white pine trees. “The students did a wonderful job,” said Doty in the release. “It is rewarding to see the students learn and to leave their lasting legacy to the future.” The UPM Plant-a-Tree initiative is being celebrated at sites in several countries including China, Germany, U.K., Finland, Estonia, Uruguay and Russia. These events not only provide the opportunity to plant trees, but to educate school students and the communities about the importance of sustainable forestry, biodiversity, renewable resources, ecology and more.

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