Wolf Branch Waterfall in Mount Dora

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"The environment and the economy are really both two sides of the same coin. If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves."  - Wangari Maathai

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​What We Do

Each year, Mount Dora Friends of the Environment plant trees across the city. We do this in partnership with the City because we know planting a tree is a gift for future generations.

Throughout the year, our organization sponsors or participates in various events like the Mount Dora Earth Day Celebration, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, and Arbor Day.

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Tree Donation Program

Help coordinate the planting of trees locally and help spread the word about this opportunity to gift loved ones or organizations with a lasting gift of life. At the same time, enhance and protect our area’s environment while participating in global action with Earth Day International to plant millions of trees around the earth. 

www.mountdoraenvironment.org/gift-a-tree.html​

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Earth Day Mount Dora

We co-sponsorship with the City of Mount Dora for an annual festival and related activities to educate the public about our area’s nature-based resources while raising funds for trees and parks. This festival is generally held the Saturday before the designated date for the international observation of Earth Day (April 22nd). ​

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Leaf Sponsor Program

The mission of our Leaf Sponsor Program is to plant trees and create educational programs in our community.

www.mountdoraenvironment.org/leaf-sponsor.html

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Urban Forest Program

The mission of the Public Works Urban Forestry Division is to effectively maintain a sustainable, diverse urban forest in Mount Dora through adherence to best management practices and proper resource management.  Mount Dora Friends of the Environment engages in strong advocacy and public education to assist the City in developing tree care & programs through the passage of an ordinance creating a specialized urban forest program with an ISA certified arborist and an urban forest committee of seven residents appointed by City Council.  
​​ci.mount-dora.fl.us/DocumentCenter/View/13588/Mount-Dora-Tree-Program

Tree Watering Program

On weekends, the volunteer watering team augments City staff to maintain and protect our newly planted tree canopy using a donated utility vehicle provided by Mount Dora Friends of the Environment. This team offers enormous benefits, including community collaboration and team-building, creating a volunteer team who enjoys working outdoors to help maintain Mount Dora‘s tree canopy.  Sign up here:
​www.mountdoraenvironment.org/volunteer.html
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Wolf Branch Preserve Pals

Assist Lake County in many ways, including helping with public walks/tours, water quality testing, public lands observation, and small management projects. The Wolf Branch Preserve is within our City’s water district and is home to central Florida’s only waterfall (seasonal) with a sinkhole that can absorb up to 12,000,000 gallons of water a day deep into the aquifer. Purifying waters draining into this sinkhole helps to ensure clean, healthy water supplies needed for life.

Wolf Branch Sinkhole

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Canopy Oak Tree Grant

Handle the Oak Tree Grant program, which matches funds up to $300 and aims to encourage neighborhood residents to plant oak trees. Trees provide numerous environmental benefits such as oxygen production, air pollution control, noise reduction, flooding control, beauty, and wildlife enhancement.

​www.mountdoraenvironment.org/tree-grant-info.html

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