Wylde Award Goes to Trees Atlanta Co-Director

 
Greg Levine of Trees Atlanta was named the 2012 recipient of the .

The award was established in 2010 by the and the City of Decatur to recognize an individual or organization in Decatur who makes a contribution to the local community and its natural environment.

Patch asked Levine to tell something about himself. He provided this information by email:

My parents live in Lilburn and I am one of four children. I was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta and currently live in Decatur with my partner David Gunderson.  I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. I am a International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist.

My Career at Trees Atlanta started  seventeen years ago , this past summer my position changed to the Co-Executive Director and Chief Program Officer.

I helped to create and develop several programs including:  NeighborWoods, Forest Restoration, Neighborhood Arboreta, the BeltLine Arboretum and many education programs.

I am currently on the Board of Woodlands Garden in Decatur, as well as the Alliance for Community Trees.

Stephanie Van Parys, executive director of the Wylde Center, said: “Greg has been involved in numerous organizations whose missions are related to educating residents about trees and the value of trees in improving quality of life; removing invasive species, such as privet; working with the Friends of Oakhurst Greenspace; in establishing an arboretum in the Oakhurst community; and working with Trees Atlanta in coordinating, promoting, and organizing volunteers and managing tree plantings, including one-day events where up to a hundred trees are planted in a concentrated neighborhood in Oakhurst and other areas of Decatur.”

The Wylde Center said that one of his major neighborhood plantings last year honored Sally Wylde, who donated land for the Oakhurst Community Garden Project more than 15 years ago. She was named the recipient of the first  Cultivating Life Award.

Levine was presented with the award at the Earth Day celebration at the Wylde Center.