Native Flags Miami artist Xavier Cortada created this urban reforestation eco-art project to help restore native habitats for plants and animals in urban areas.
Participating residents are asked to plant a native tree alongside the green project flag in their front yard and state:“I hereby reclaim this land for nature.”
The project’s conspicuous green flags serve as a catalyst for conversations with neighbors, who will be encouraged to join the effort and help rebuild their native tree canopy one yard at a time.
Ideally, as they watch each tree grow, their interest in the environment will also grow.
About the eco-art project Fusing art, scientific knowledge, and civic engagement, Native Flags seeks to involve individuals, like you, directly in restoration efforts through the planting, maintaining and protection of native trees.
The restoration of native trees offsets the threat of global warming. This effect has turned urban reforestation effort into a top priority by planting drought-tolerant native plant species. These native plant species reduce the effects of carbon dioxide emissionsthat contribute to global warming and increase the amount of clean air present.
Why should we preserve our native environments? Environmental preservation is necessary for cities and towns to have the clean water, clean air, and rich soilthat people need. These resources are a result of a delicate system formed by native animals and plants . This system is thrown off balance with the removal or addition of new species, resulting in lower quality resources that yield health and economic problems among people.
Because the pace native reforestation is so slow, we need to think and act quickly and creatively to increase public awareness and understanding of the need to engage in reforestation. With your involvement, Native Flags aims to stimulate commitment and action toward that end.
