It has been a century-and-a-half since Thoreau wrote these words, yet they are still pertinent in the present day. At this time, 95% of America's forests have already been cut down, and it is estimated that by the year 2050, all of the earth's virgin forests will be completely gone.

We may not have control over this, but we do have control over what happens to the trees of Coconut Grove. Our community has long been renowned for the lush canopy of trees that shades our streets; for the towering, ancient banyans, for the cypress, mahogany, live oak and coco plum trees, just to name a few, that flourish here. It is these trees -- beneficial, individual and irreplaceable -- that the Grove Tree-Man Trust, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, seeks to protect. In so doing, we also protect the unique beauty and charm of the Grove itself.

It is our goal to educate the public in the proper care and protection of these trees, and to urge both the major developer and the individual homebuilder alike to consider alternatives before cutting them down to make way for new buildings and residences.

We do this for many reasons. The trees of the Grove provide such obvious benefits as clean air, noise reduction and shade, as well as serving as a crucial habitat for wildlife. But they also provide scores of other benefits that most people are not aware of. For instance, did you know that trees prevent erosion? That their root networks filter contaminants found in our soil? Or that a mere 3 trees located strategically around your house could cut your air-conditioning bill in half? Or that the property values of homes with trees in the landscape are 5-20% higher than equivalent properties without trees? There are so many reasons why it is in our own best interest to protect the extraordinary heritage trees of Coconut Grove.

 
Founded in 1995, the Grove Tree-Man Trust consists of a 7-member elected board of directors and was created by John Joseph Riordan, a landscape architect who designated in his will that his estate be used to found this organization. It was his wish that the Grove Tree-Man Trust be created in order to protect the trees of Coconut Grove, where he lived for more than ____ years. During his lifetime, Riordan was passionate about protecting the native trees of his community, for he felt that trees_____(something about why he loved trees, why he chose for his money to go to this cause in particular, etc.).