This is Bird Note.

In 2020, the first Black Birders Week celebrated the contributions of Black Birders and

called for greater inclusivity in the outdoors.

Later that summer, the first Black Botanist Week premiered.

Georgia Silvera Seamands and Urban Forester helped organize the event.

We didn't use the technical definition of botanist, we said any Black person who loves plants.

And so we knew that folks were out there and to see the participation was really affirming,

it was very special.

Now in its third year, the event helps foster a community of Black people passionate about

plants and highlights the importance of making green spaces accessible to everyone.

Black, brown and indigenous activists and researchers have been demonstrating that neighborhoods

of color poor neighborhoods are park poor and they have low tree canopy cover.

A tree canopy isn't just nice to look at, it has real health benefits.

It traps particulate matter and so you have fewer trips to the hospital for asthma, it

cools streets, it cools your building, it slows down surface runoff and the list goes

on and on.

Planting trees where people live can bring in the birds too.

Bird song has been shown to be coming, so it's not just seeing birds, it's hearing them.

Learn more about this year's Black Botanist Week on our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Connor Gearen.