홀든 숲과 정원

초기 설문조사에서 파악하지 못한 기후 변화 문제를 해결하기 위해 어떤 특별한 상황과 이니셔티브를 수행했거나 수행할 계획이 있나요?

홀든 포레스트 앤 가든은 도심에 위치한 클리블랜드 식물원과 교외에 위치한 홀든 수목원 두 캠퍼스로 구성되어 있습니다. 홀든 수목원에는 2000에이커의 숲을 포함하여 3000에이커의 자연 지역이 있습니다. 일하는 숲 프로젝트는 토지 소유주가 생물 다양성을 높이고 기후 변화를 완화하기 위해 토지를 관리하면서 소득을 얻을 수 있는 지속 가능한 산림 관리(예: 나무 성장률 증가, 숲 내 나무 잔해 유지)를 입증하는 것을 목표로 합니다. 이 프로젝트는 연구와 교육 활동을 결합하는 동시에 산림의 탄소 격리 능력을 향상시킬 수 있도록 지원합니다.

기후 변화를 해결하기 위해 활용할 수 있는 커뮤니티의 가장 시급한 문제나 기회는 무엇인가요?

한 가지 시급한 문제는 도시 지역의 잠재적인 기온 상승과 기후 변화로 인한 '열섬 효과'의 강화에 관한 것입니다. 도시 및 건축 환경 내 나무 심기를 옹호하는 저희는 지역사회 내 기후 변화에 대한 회복력을 높일 수 있습니다.

기후 변화에 대응하기 위해 정원의 어떤 독특한 특징을 활용할 수 있나요?

위에서 언급했듯이 홀든의 광범위한 자연 지역은 홀든이 기후 변화의 영향을 학습하고 교육하며 완화할 수 있는 실험실이자 방법의 역할을 합니다.

Teach facts and best practices to mitigate and reduce global climate change.

In FY23, our primary focus was on establishing recycling programs at both campuses. These campuses are now equipped to recycle everyday items, including glass. Composting initiatives have also seen significant growth with the introduction of the new composting area at ARB. We are actively exploring the potential for implementing food composting at ARB in collaboration with Rust Belt Riders.

In FY23, we identified Green Corps Interns as a key audience for climate education, equipping them with factual knowledge and practical strategies to reduce environmental impact. Interns applied this learning through hands-on sustainability actions, including ink-recycling initiatives that modeled waste-reduction best practices. Building on this approach in FY24, we hired a dedicated Green Corps intern to lead a food waste reduction initiative, focused on educating school groups about the climate impacts of food waste and implementing best practices to reduce lunch waste sent to landfills. Together, these efforts positioned interns as informed climate stewards who actively apply and share solutions that mitigate global climate change.

Additionally, to achieve this goal, we initially attempted to arrange a multi-day workshop for educators focused on climate change. Regrettably, the workshop was canceled due to low registration. Nevertheless, we adopted a new approach. In collaboration, our Education and Research departments hired a Teacher-in-Residence in the summer of FY24. This Teacher in Residence developed teacher-led lessons and educational materials on climate change and its mitigation. Lessons and other resources are available on our website for educators to download.

Eliminate all single-use plastic in food service, horticulture, gift shops, and all other facilities and operations.

We devoted significant efforts to pursue this objective, recognizing that eliminating single-use plastics may not always be feasible without viable alternatives. We have successfully addressed single-use options in both campuses’ food services by transitioning vending machines and water offerings to cans or self-serve stations. Our Horticulture department is actively experimenting with non-plastic alternatives for pots and other single-use plastic products. Moreover, our gift shops are switching suppliers to favor non-plastic packaging materials. In all other facets of our departments and operations, we diligently seek alternatives to single-use plastics wherever practical.

In addition, in FY24, the Sustainability Committee launched the Employee Single-Use Plastic Challenge to engage staff in reducing or eliminating single-use plastics across departments, events, projects, and programs at Holden Forests & Gardens. Through team-based planning and implementation, the challenge increased organizational awareness of the impacts of single-use plastic and prompted departments to more intentionally evaluate and adjust everyday practices. Results emphasized reduced reliance on disposable plastics, cross-team learning, and increased adoption of alternative practices, reinforcing a culture of mindful consumption and collective climate action.