More than 500 acres of DC’s urban forest are located in Ward 8, but public institutions have historically neglected cleaning and maintaining access to this land. Ward 8 Woods centers residents from these neighborhoods in its environmental justice work. Many are often left out of such conversations despite living with the most pollution. Employing residents as Park Stewards, it trains them to restore the woodland ecology, build trails, and promote sustainable living. Park Stewards work alongside a crew of volunteers to remove trash and invasive species. In six years, they have cleared more than 1.5 million pounds of trash and cut invasive vines from over 8,000 trees. In an area where residents earn about half the average citywide income, Ward 8 Woods provides meaningful employment
that restores the environment and increases access to it.
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