Get more trees for Indiana by voting online

Hoosiers can vote online to get more trees for Indiana state parks and reservoir properties through the Odwalla Plant a Tree Program.

Just go to stateparks.IN.gov/2923.htmand click on "Help Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs Plant Trees" or go to www.odwalla.com/plantatree to vote.

Each vote results in $1 being donated by Good Solutions Group, which runs the Odwalla program, to Indiana for planting trees. Only one vote per person is allowed. Persons who have already voted and still want to see more trees planted should encourage friends to vote.

The program is in its second year in Indiana and its fourth year nationwide. It already has been responsible for the planting of more than 160,000 trees around the country.

Once the program closes and each state has its final dollar amounts, each state can begin to use the funds, which must be used to purchase trees. Each state decides the type of tree it wants. GSG pays the appropriate amount to each state based on votes.

"Indiana received 3,400 votes in 2010, and we spent our $3,400 on trees to replace those killed by the emerald ash borer in the campground at Salamonie Lake," said Ginger Murphy, assistant director for stewardship of DNR State Parks & Reservoirs.

Salamonie lost about one-third of its campground shade trees to the invasive EAB insect.

"We're glad that Odwalla provides this program," Murphy said. "We'd love to see that amount doubled or even tripled in 2011."