SeaPoint Partners with Savannah Tree Foundation to Grow Native Tree Seedlings On-Site

SeaPoint Industrial Terminal Complex recently partnered with the Savannah Tree Foundation to grow native tree seedlings on-site as part of a larger effort to protect and expand the shade canopy throughout Chatham County. Dulany Industries, Inc. donated the use of a one-acre site located near SeaPoint’s 1 MW solar array and honeybee apiary and pollinator garden, as well as water and electricity to support the Savannah Tree Foundation’s new initiative.

“We’re incredibly honored to help jumpstart the Savannah Tree Foundation’s impressive new native plant nursery program,” said Reed Dulany III, chairman and CEO at Dulany Industries, Inc. “My parents were longtime supporters of the Savannah Tree Foundation, so I understand the importance of growing and protecting our tree canopy.”

The Savannah Tree Foundation will start by growing 2,000 native trees at SeaPoint, all of which will be planted in locations across coastal Georgia. Starting in March 2024, a wide range of seedlings will be grown in three-gallon containers on-site, including live oak, tulip popular, persimmon, whitefringe and bald cypress trees. The one-acre site at SeaPoint can accommodate up to 4,000 seedlings.

“Our goal is to grow local, native shade, ornamental and fruit trees that are hard to get at area garden centers,” explained Zoe Rinker, executive director of the Savannah Tree Foundation. “Thanks to the generous support of Dulany Industries, we can invest in hiring a qualified nursery manager to make sure we’re doing this in a way that is sustainable and long-lasting.”

The Savannah Tree Foundation’s new plant nursery will complement the ongoing focus on sustainability at SeaPoint. The nonprofit has planted more than 5,300 trees since its founding and is committed to protecting and growing the tree canopy in Savannah and Chatham County through planting, protecting and engaging the community.

Savannah Tree Foundation was recently awarded a major grant by the Georgia Forestry Commission as part of its federally-funded Trees Across Georgia program. The grant will fund the Savannah Tree Foundation’s Canopy Corps program, which addresses tree inequity and provides green job training opportunities in Chatham County