Join the Movement
There's a role for everyone in Houston's urban forest story — from first-time volunteers to corporate partners and government agencies.
For Donors & Philanthropies
Miyawaki forests are a remarkably cost-effective investment. A single donation seeds a self-sustaining ecosystem that provides compounding ecological, social, and economic returns for 50+ years — with minimal ongoing cost after Year 3.
Donations support site preparation, native plant procurement, volunteer coordination, planting day logistics, Year 1 establishment care, and long-term monitoring. Every dollar goes directly into the ground — growing Houston's urban forest network.
Urban Green Initiative is structured to pursue 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Please contact us for current donation arrangements and how your gift will be applied.
What Your Gift Grows
Funds 30–40 native saplings — enough to anchor the shrub and sub-canopy layers of a small Miyawaki planting. Your name on a species identification sign.
Funds soil preparation and planting for a 500 sq ft Miyawaki forest — roughly 150 native plants. Includes Year 1 establishment monitoring and photo documentation.
Funds a complete 1,000 sq ft Miyawaki forest from site assessment through Year 1 establishment — approximately 280 native plants, full signage, and a dedicated planting day event.
Fund a signature Miyawaki forest at a high-visibility Houston location, named in your honor or the name of your choice. Full impact reporting and recognition program.
For Corporations
Houston's energy, petrochemical, healthcare, and technology sectors all carry sustainability commitments that Miyawaki forest sponsorship can directly fulfill — with measurable, independently verifiable outcomes.
We provide annual carbon sequestration data, biodiversity metrics, stormwater capture estimates, and media-ready content from your sponsored forest. Each forest becomes a visible demonstration of your company's commitment to the city it calls home.
Corporate sponsorships can also include volunteer days for your employees — research shows 15-minute forest exposure reduces stress cortisol by 20–30%, making forest volunteering a powerful wellness benefit.
Sponsorship Levels
Named forest at a premier Houston location. Full ESG reporting package. Annual impact updates. Media and social media feature. Executive presentation of impact data. Employee volunteer day.
Co-named forest planting. ESG metrics package. Brand recognition on signage and site. Employee volunteer event. Quarterly photo and data updates.
Recognition on forest signage. Brand feature in planting day materials. Annual impact report. Invitation to volunteer planting day.
Named in project materials. Invitation to planting day. Impact photo set. Social media recognition.
For Volunteers
A 1,000 sq ft Miyawaki forest — about 280 native plants — can be fully planted by 20–40 volunteers in a single day. No gardening experience required. We stage the plants, lay out the planting plan, and provide all training. You provide the energy.
Volunteer planting days are among the most powerful community experiences we know of — strangers working side by side to create something that will outlast all of them. Schools, faith communities, corporate teams, and neighborhood associations are all welcome.
Planting season in Houston runs October through March — the optimal window for establishment before summer heat. Sign up below to be notified when our first planting days are scheduled.
How Planting Day Works
Meet the team. Learn the four forest layers, the planting density, and which species go where. Get your section assignment.
Work through your assigned section, planting native saplings at the Miyawaki density. It's rhythmic, grounding, satisfying work.
Apply the protective wood chip mulch layer and give the newly planted forest its first thorough watering together.
Group photo, species count, a moment to appreciate what was just created from bare ground. You'll receive progress photos as the forest grows.
For Government & Civic Organizations
Government agencies at every level have a role to play — and powerful incentives to act. Federal and state funding streams through EPA, FEMA, and state forestry programs can cover 50–90% of eligible project costs for qualifying sites.
Urban Green Initiative provides the technical expertise, volunteer mobilization, and implementation capacity. Government partners provide land access, permitting support, and the institutional credibility that accelerates community adoption.
We are actively seeking partnerships with City of Houston departments, Harris County precincts, Houston ISD, Houston Community College, University of Houston, and civic organizations working on flood resilience and environmental equity.
Partnership Pathways
Land access on retention ponds, rights-of-way, and park margins. Integration with existing flood and resilience plans. Connections to city-managed volunteer programs and maintenance crews.
School campus forest sites serving as outdoor classrooms. Curriculum integration across K–12 science programs. Student volunteer pipeline and phenology observation projects.
Research partnerships for biodiversity monitoring, carbon sequestration measurement, and stormwater data. University of Houston, Rice, and Texas Southern all have relevant research programs.
Alignment with Harris County Flood Control District retention basin restoration. Partnerships with Houston Public Works on stormwater infrastructure greening initiatives.
Contact Us
Whether you're ready to plant a forest, sponsor a site, or explore a partnership — we'd love to hear from you.
Location
Houston, Texas
Media Inquiries
UGI is available for media interviews on urban forestry, climate resilience, and Houston's environmental challenges. Contact us to arrange.
Send Us a Message