Adopt-A-Tree in Athens!
Following the program’s successful operation in the summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021, the City of Athens announces the relaunch of the Adopt-A-Tree initiative this year, through which Athenians can easily help to maintain the urban greenery and make a substantial contribution towards improving the quality of life in our city.
The Adopt-A-Tree project allows you to search for a street tree near you, through the Novoville app, and commit to keeping it healthy by watering it.
Why should I adopt a tree?
The main reason that causes trees to dry out is the lack of water during the summer months. The City of Athens plants hundreds of new trees annually. However, during this period, the City loses 10%-40% of its newly planted trees, due to high temperatures and lack of water, and due to the fire protection needs where its aquifer fleet is engaged.
It is, therefore, essential that we water trees regularly to increase the likelihood of their survival.
Trees have many far-reaching benefits in urban environments. They help retain airborne pollutants, absorb CO2 — the leading driver of climate change — and release large amounts of oxygen. They help cool cities by providing shade; they reduce flooding events and noise pollution; they provide an essential natural habitat for birds and insects; and they bring aesthetic value to our neighbourhoods.
Especially for the densely populated City of Athens, tree lines are one of the most beneficial microclimatic elements. In some parts of the city it is probably the only form of greenery that can be placed. Maintaining them is important for biodiversity, improving the microclimate and the aesthetics of the city.
How do I go about adopting a street tree?
To adopt your own tree, just follow the 4 simple steps below:
- Download the free Novoville mobile app for Android devices from Google Play & for iOS devices from the App Store
- Tap the ‘Adopt a Tree’ button on the home screen to view all adoptable trees.
- Zoom the map to your location and choose a tree by tapping on it. Learn more info about it & adopt it by selecting ‘Adopt me!’
- Let us know every time you water it by tapping on ‘I watered my tree!’.
You’ll get a reminder when your tree needs to be watered again.
Each citizen can adopt up to three trees, and the number of people who can adopt a particular tree is up to three as well.
What do I need to do after I adopt a tree?
It is essential that you water newly planted trees with 15 litres of water every 2 days during the warm season (May to September), to increase the likelihood of their survival. From October to April, the trees need watering once a week with 10 litres of water.
Every time you water your tree, make sure you tap the ‘I watered my tree!’ button. This way, you’ll know when it’s time to water it again.
If you adopted a tree last summer, you still remain its adopter. You can continue to water it and log the action on the app, or cancel the adoption if you can no longer take care of it.
By adopting a tree, you are helping to maintain the trees on the streets of Athens, and making a valuable contribution to your neighborhood.