SUGi

🇮🇪A new wave of rewilding has begun in Dublin. Together with 1,800 local students, we’ve planted the 3,400 trees to create the first three SUGi Pocket Forests in Ireland. Over time, the pocket forests will grow into biodiverse ecosystems that will serve as outdoor classrooms for the next generation of rewilders. These lush, vibrant spaces offer hands-on climate education, where students plant, nurture, and monitor their forest’s growth—gaining a deep, tangible connection to nature and the wildlife around them. The impact goes beyond education. With flooding identified as a severe climate risk in the area, these forests will also help mitigate runoff water, building climate resilience in suburbs where the natural landscape has been largely replaced by farmland. Learning to taking action, these students are shaping a greener future. Support Nature-based Solutions that build biodiversity, climate resilience and wellbeing in cities. 🌿 Forest Partners: Docusign Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT) Forest Maker: John Kilberd Photography: Cáit Fahey and Carl Foran

In just 3 years Oakwood Primary students have transformed what was once a barren, undeveloped area of dry earth and sparse grass into a thriving ecosystem brimming with life. Today, the forest is a vibrant mix of dense greenery, so lush that walking through it is nearly impossible. Birches (Betula spp.), alders (Alnus glutinosa), and willows (Salix spp.) have grown rapidly, capturing the attention of the schoolchildren who marvel at the trees’ remarkable expansion. The forest has also become a haven for diverse species, with an abundance of snails and slugs thriving among its foliage, showcasing the richness of its ecosystem. Now a self-sustaining environment, Oakwood Primary Forest offers an inspiring outdoor classroom where students can connect with Nature and witness its dynamic growth firsthand. Support Nature-based Solutions that build biodiversity, climate resilience and wellbeing in cities. 🌿 Forest Partner: Voice for Nature ReWild Yourself Forest Maker: James Godfrey-Faussett Photography by: Alexander James-Aylin

"Sustainability is a core value at Docusign and we are honored to support the Unity Forest in Seattle. Our partnership with SUGi helps to support the rewilding of community spaces in regions where we live and work. Through Docusign.org, we bring the strength of our products, people, and resources together to create stronger communities and a more sustainable planet." - Andrea Bouch

Did you know that humans aren’t the only living creatures who experience loneliness? Trees do too. Trees are social beings, interacting with and relying on their environment in a variety of ways. They lean on underground fungal networks to help them exchange nutrients and water. They alert each other about possible disease or attack, warning their relatives to release the chemicals needed to protect themselves. Different species interact with one other in an unseen dance to regulate moisture and temperature for the entire ecosystem. But all of this activity falters in the absence of community. Without other species of flora, fungi, and more, mono planted trees suffer. Sometimes, the results are fatal — trees may overheat and stop photosynthesizing. Their isolation stunts their growth and leaves them more susceptible to disease. Like humans, trees are better able to survive — and thrive — when surrounded by other living creatures.

There’s more wilderness in our concrete jungles than meets the eye. “Some people believe that cities are biological deserts, completely lacking in the biodiversity observed in more rural areas. But this couldn’t be farther from the truth: some species may actually survive better in cities, including certain bird species or bees. In London, more than 14,000 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded. Over the course of 2024, I saw this rich biodiversity firsthand, visiting our 26 London pocket forests over 120 times.  During those visits, I had firsthand sightings of a vast array of animal and plant life. I witnessed queen bees coming out of hibernation and other bees gathering nectar from the early flowering plants. I saw fox dens being built and pups running around in the summer, spiders hatching and forming a mass of babies that later catch the wind with webbed sails, and caterpillars chewing into the young leaves of trees and shrubs and pupating into beautiful butterflies, moths, and beetles. Later in the year, squirrels and birds gathered seeds and then buried them in the soil. Mushrooms of all descriptions peppered the floor of our forests. In all, we’ve counted 192 different living bits of biodiversity while roaming the interiors of our London forests. It has been a pleasure to see so much life come to inhabit and flourish in spaces that not long before were gravel pits, paved areas, or unused desolate spaces.” Words by: Adrian W. UK Forest Lead, SUGi Support Nature-based Solutions that build biodiversity, climate resilience and wellbeing in cities. 🌿

Cities are increasingly becoming hotspots of extreme heat and flooding — and who’s to blame? We are. It is a consequence of the way we have designed our cities, pushing nature out, and concreting up our streets and open spaces. Heatwaves and floods are no longer separate crises — each contributes to the intensity and frequency of the other. These combined phenomena particularly affect vulnerable groups, such as low-income communities, the elderly, children, and those with existing health issues. But we can still act. Increasing tree canopy cover has been proven to lower temperatures in cities and reduce heat-related mortality. Research has shown that urban dense forests can reduce air temperature by up to 5°C. With Miyawaki forests we can reduce surface temperatures by up to 25°C. Creating permeable surfaces by de-paving allows water to be absorbed. This not only cools the environment, but also reduces runoff which can decrease the risk of flooding. By designing in and working with nature, cities can better cope with the climate challenges of the future. Open spaces found throughout cities (including streets, railway corridors, roundabouts, park, gardens, etc.) provide a large canvas, creating an opportunity to build resilience. Words by: Dima Zogheib Landscape Designer, Arup for the 2024 Impact Report. Thank you 🌿

🇬🇧 Join us to plant a SUGi Pocket Forest at Newham Hospital in London, UK. 📆 Wednesday, 26th March 2 time slots: (1) 9am - 11am (2) 11am - 1pm 📍Newham Hospital | Newham London UK 🔗 Limited spots – Sign up: https://lnkd.in/e996aJ2t Get your hands in the soil and help plant a thriving pocket forest with native trees. Discover our forest-making techniques and be part of the movement to create a more biodiverse, resilient city. Let’s grow a greener future together! This project will transform the Newham Hospital west entrance into a lush, green space, offering a peaceful, welcoming space that will be used by both patients and staff. The addition of these green spaces will not only enhance the aesthetic of the area but also serve as a habitat for local biodiversity. The trees will provide a natural canopy, creating a calming environment and surrounding visitors with vibrant colours throughout the seasons. Additionally, these trees will play an essential role in improving air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, and cooling the surrounding environment, promoting a healthier space for all who visit. Forest Partner: London Borough of Newham and Barts Health NHS Trust Forest Maker: Adrian W.

🇯🇴 What is the cost of rapid urbanisation in Amman, Jordan? SUGi Talks Moments 🌿EP07: Amman, Jordan is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, and the ongoing desertification of the region continues to threaten its resources. Our SUGi Forest Maker, @tayyun.co Deema Assaf watched her hometown of Amman become almost unrecognisable as urbanisation swept through its landscapes. Understanding the cost of losing so much Nature she trained to become a Forest Maker and in 2018 she planted the first Miyawaki Forest of the Arab world.Focussing on preserving the genetic diversity of Jordan, Deema’s important work has protected some of the country’s most endangered tree species. On this excerpt of SUGi Talks, we speak about Amman’s rapid urbanisation, and the importance of changing mindsets towards Nature. Huge thanks for Deema Assaf TAYYŪN Research Studio Photography: Annie Sakkab Make sure you Like and Subscribe wherever you get podcasts for more SUGi Talks. 🌿 Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/e5MK26ga

🇮🇳 Cultivating havens of biodiversity across Aurangabad with 24,805 Trees over 8,860 Square Meters. The Green Aurangabad Mission is one of our most ambitious projects - planting over at six sites across Aurangabad, including at two schools and two public health centers. As these SUGi Pocket Forests continue to grow, they will become areas of rich biodiversity that support wildlife and become hubs for environmental education in their respective communities. These green spaces will also offer a peaceful place for local people to shelter from heat and reap the benefits of nature from better air quality to peace of mind. The project is an example of ‘urban acupuncture’ in action - a term coined by the Spanish architect and urbanist, Marco Casagrande - meaning an array of small, considered interventions across a city. Forests and green spaces serve as the acupuncture needles, helping the city to heal and rebalance itself. Forest Partner: re:arc institute Forest Maker: EcoSattva

Yesterday we planted another 1,000 trees in the latest Stepping Stone Forest in Scoil Aoife, Citywest. This latest urban forest was supported & funded by SUGi and this is the second project in which we have collaborated. It was a real pleasure to be joined for the planting event by SUGi's UK Forest Lead Adrian W. It was a great opportunity to learn more about SUGi and their approach to urban forestry. The aims and methods of the Stepping Stone Forest program align very well with those of SUGi. We have just one more forest collaboration planned for March 4th in Dunboyne, Co. Meath but I'm hoping that we have many more opportunites to work together into the future. #steppingstoneforests