Honda has planted 85,000 trees in Union County, Ohio as part of the company’s latest effort to enhance biodiversity and reduce its environmental footprint. The 85,000 trees planted on 100 acres of Honda-owned land along the Flat Branch Creek near its Marysville Auto Plant, East Liberty Auto Plant and Auto Development Center will increase the company’s carbon sequestration efforts, improve existing riparian buffers, and serve as home for a diverse group of insects, animals, birds and plants. The native trees will be known as the “Honda Power of Dreams Forest.”

As part of this work, Honda partnered with a local farmer to implement USDA conservation agricultural practices that will help strengthen water quality in the Flat Branch Creek. Honda also is working with a neighboring farm to develop a tree-based system focused on maple trees for syrup production. This not only creates another sustainable local source of maple syrup but also aligns with the farm’s existing agricultural activities and the environmental efforts Honda is promoting. Ultimately, the syrup will be made available for sale at a local farmers market, further strengthening local sustainability.

“These trees represent the Power of Dreams of our Honda associates who identified a beneficial way to capture carbon and support Ohio’s water quality goals,” said Larry Geise, executive vice president of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America. “Initiatives like this will not only help Honda reach our goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 but will also help enhance the local ecosystem and support local farms.”

In May, Honda held a celebratory event at its Auto Development Center with associates and state officials where they had the opportunity to plant a tree to symbolize the effort to enhance biodiversity and carbon capture in the area.

Pictured L-R – Honda associate Mahjabeen Qadir, State Representative Tracy Richardson, Honda associate Joel Agner, Honda associate Craig Lloyd, Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel

“This project advances Governor DeWine’s commitment to enhance Ohio’s most abundant natural resource,” said Anne Vogel, director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. “These trees will act as a natural filtration system, ensuring the water in the streams remains clean and healthy. Today’s event reflects Honda’s tangible investment in this local community where the company has taken root.”

The trees planted by Honda are native to Ohio and include Hazelnut, Hickory, Maple, Oak and Sycamore, all of which contribute to the local agroforestry system. Honda is also exploring how the Maple and Hazelnut trees can be made accessible to Honda associates who want to utilize the syrup and nuts of those perennial plantings.

“This ‘Honda Power of Dreams Forest’ is representative of what you can do at Honda,” said Joel Agner, the tree-planting project leader. “If you have a dream and can illustrate how it serves our customers and strengthens our society, Honda will support you in making that dream come true.”