Event Photos Available Here, Time Lapse Video Here 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that on June 7, 2025, DEC staff and nearly 100 community volunteers planted more than 500 trees and plants at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Albany County. The plantings support the establishment of DEC’s first-ever mini forest, also known as a pocket forest or Miyawaki forest, and contribute to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 25 Million Trees Initiative. 

“DEC is working hard to bring the benefits of planting trees to all New Yorkers through community-driven events and initiatives that engage and educate,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “I thank all the community and DEC volunteers who braved the weather to join us in creating more green spaces for the public to enjoy and helping us meet our goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033. I look forward to seeing this forest grow and thrive in the coming years.” 

The innovative mini forest planting technique features more than 40 native tree and shrub species planted tightly together. The heightened competition between the densely planted trees encourages them to grow into a mature forest an estimated 10 times faster than traditional tree-planting methods. Miyawaki mini forests also sequester carbon at a rapid rate, trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus removing climate-changing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. 

The planting at Five Rivers serves as a demonstration project that enables DEC to learn how to effectively carry out these types of plantings for future afforestation efforts around the state. 

Governor Hochul’s 25 Million Trees Initiative encourages every New Yorker to plant trees and expand forest cover across the state. DEC’s website offers a suite of tools to assist the public to record tree plantings, including an online tree tracker and statewide event listings. Every tree planting recorded in DEC’s Tree Tracker counts toward the ambitious goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033 to improve public health, enhance community resilience, address climate change impacts, and contribute to overall community well-being statewide. 

Learn more about how to get involved with the 25 Million Trees Initiative at on.ny.gov/25milliontrees.