ABOUT > HANDS-ON ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

The Religious Partnership offers opportunities for congregations to help restore the Anacostia River riverbanks in three significant ways:

• Tree plantings stop erosion of topsoil into the river, thereby alleviating one of the major pollutants in the Anacostia — sediment. Partnership staff provides seedlings, shovels, and gloves and demonstrates proper planting and care.
  
  
• Riverbank cleanups of trash — paper, plastic, aluminum cans etc. — caught in brush, demonstrate how far reaching the effects of a discarded Coke bottle can be.
  
  
• Eradication of invasive species — such as purple loosestrife and honeysuckle — growing on Anacostia banks, allows beneficial native plants to thrive and recreate an ecological balance for wildlife.

These activities, scheduled in the spring, summer and fall of the year, present opportunities for congregations from different parts of the city to join together in efforts to restore the Anacostia and to form community around the river. Involving young people in these events provides hands-on environmental education as well as connection with youth from different communities.

To sign up, please contact the Religious Partnership at 202-544-2232 or by email at RSVP@ReligiousPartnership.org.