Hoosier Heartland RC&D Council, Inc.
     Plant-A-Million (PAM) About Us

Background
Plant A Million is a combined effort of Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Council (HHRCD) and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, and Shelby Counties to plant a million or more native trees in the next six to ten years.

For more information about the Hoosier Heartland RC&D visit their website at www.hhrcd.org .  For more information about the PAM Project see the  Plant A Million Fact Sheet  (pdf format) or other pages of this web site

The GROW Initiative-
One of Hoosier Heartland projects isthe Plant A Million (PAM) Project.  The PAM project is the main focus of its GROW Initiative.  The PAM project’s goal is to plant one million trees in central Indiana. The current tree canopy in central Indiana is approximately 16% while the recommended cover rate for livable, sustainable communities is over twice that. Plant A Million (original news release in pdf format) will not only increase the canopy but also improve the community’s quality of life.

Trees are indicators of a community’s health. The greater the tree cover and the less the impervious surface, the more ecosystem services are produced. These include reduced storm water runoff, increased air and water quality, storage and sequestration of atmospheric carbon and reduced energy consumption due to direct shading of buildings.

This project is particularly important considering central Indiana includes two of the fastest growing counties in the nation (Hendricks and Hamilton). Development and urban sprawl are happening at an alarming rate. We have less parks, green space, and tree canopy cover than most comparable major metropolitan areas in the country.

Hoosier Heartland, a nonprofit organization of volunteers, will partner with the ten Soil and Water Conservation Districts in central Indiana, as well as other like-minded organizations and local businesses to make this project happen. Since 1969, Hoosier Heartland has successfully carried out over 500 projects to improve the quality of life in central Indiana.

You can help 
Make good things happen in your community! Many dedicated volunteers, organizations, and businesses make Hoosier Heartland successful. To join the RC&D organization, or to donate to the cause, please contact the RC&D at 317-290-3250 or contact your county’s local Soil & Water Conservation District to get involved!