Thanks to the financial support of the Arbor Day Foundation — the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to planting trees — we have established two vital traditions in Irpin, a town near Kyiv: planting memorial trees to honor fallen residents and planting trees together with school students.
These new trees have replenished the city’s green spaces and contributed to increasing Irpin’s climate resilience.
Why is there a need for tree planting?
Irpin was once known as the “city in the woods,” but today many trees have been lost due to intensive urban development and the hostilities during the Russian invasion.
Trees in parks and public squares play an especially critical role now, as these green zones maintain the city’s ecological balance. Most of the trees in our parks are pines that have reached their age limit and are often affected by diseases. Therefore, it is critically important to plant young deciduous trees of local species to gradually replace old stands and support the diversity of urban flora.
How will the planted trees impact community resilience and the local environment?
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Honoring Memories: Families of Irpin residents who lost their lives during the Russian invasion joined the planting effort. They planted memorial trees in honor of their loved ones. Each tree features a plaque with the name and a brief biography of the person it commemorates.
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Youth Involvement: A large portion of the trees was planted by students from three Irpin schools. Each school hosted a short lecture on the significance of trees and the role of green spaces in urban life.
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A Growing Legacy: Every student involved received tree seeds to sow at home, care for the seedlings, and eventually transplant them into a park or forest. First-grade students planted trees alongside seniors—a symbolic gesture, as the trees will grow together with the children, who can return to care for their saplings.
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Strengthening the Riverbank: The second key planting area was the Irpin River embankment, which requires bank stabilization. Here, the trees will help reinforce the soil and protect the city from flooding. Employees of the Utility Company “Urban Improvement Administration” and volunteers participated in these plantings.
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Urban Comfort: Some trees were also planted along street spaces to provide shade, reduce the impact of summer heat, and provide additional ecosystem services for residents.
All areas where trees were planted are managed by the Utility Company “Urban Improvement Administration,” which will continue to care for the saplings.
What was the most significant and memorable aspect of this project?
The most touching part of the project was the people who took part — the relatives of the fallen, the schoolchildren, and the volunteers.
For each of them, this work held deep personal meaning: the trees became more than just plants; they became symbols of life, memory, and hope for the future. Equally important was the practical result — the new trees will help preserve and renew the city’s green zones, strengthen the riverbanks, and enhance Irpin’s climate resilience.