Lawrence Planting Goal Progress:
2,800 Trees Planted out of 2,400 GOAL
Last Updated: January 19, 2023
Am I In The Zone?
Meet Your Local Foresters:
Marc Ghen
Education: Bachelor of Science, Forestry with Minor in Wildlife Conservation Biology, University of New Hampshire; Associates of Science, Forest Technology, University of New Hampshire.
Experience: Began working with the DCR in 2017, after receiving degree at UNH and working for 4 years in the Department of Woodlands and Natural Areas as a Forest Technician. Worked with the Rockingham County Conservation District as a technician, on projects such as invasive species control at Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH. Also worked as a Utility Forester with Eversource, and spent nearly 4 years with Exxon Mobil as an equipment operator and vegetation control specialist. ISA certified Arborist.
Interests: Arboriculture, Forestry, Gardening, Science and Mechanics.
Favorite Tree: European Copper beech (Fagus sylvatica) because of its grand size and burgundy foliage. Mature Copper beech are magnificent landscape specimens that are slow growing and have often witnessed hundreds of years of history.
Lawrence Partners:
Groundwork Lawrence
Groundwork Lawrence (GWL) has been making change happen since its beginnings in 1999. Through its environmental and open space improvements, healthy food access programs, youth education, employment initiatives, community programming and events, GWL creates the building blocks of a healthy community, and empowers residents to improve their quality of life. GWL is committed to “changing places, changing lives, and changing systems” through on-the-ground projects that help to transform local communities. To accomplish this, GWL leads and supports a variety of partnership-driven efforts that bring together the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to solve complex environmental and health problems and sustain a long-term vision for neighborhood change and renewal. In 2007, GWL launched its own Green Streets urban forestry program and, since 2016, has proudly partnered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Greening the Gateway Cities to plant 2800 trees in Lawrence and support outreach efforts in the neighboring city of Haverhill. GWL houses all aspects of this urban forestry effort under one roof, providing outreach and engagement, tree selection and planning, and tree planting, all conducted by GWL staff, making Lawrence unique among Greening the Gateway Cities communities. You can learn more by visiting www.groundworklawrence.org.
