YOUNGSTOWN - There is a national effort to cut U.S. emissions and here in the Valley, there were several groups doing their part this Earth Day to help out.

More than a dozen FirstEnergy volunteers planted 300 trees at Mill Creek MetroParks Thursday.

First Energy is set to donate and plant 10,000 trees throughout its six-state service from April 22 through April 30.

Dan Havalo, a First Energy volunteer said, "BY RETURNING THIS LAND AND MANY OTHER SITES THAT WE ARE PART OF ACROSS OUR FOOTPRINT. WE ARE REFORRESTING THIS LAND AND THE TREES ARE LETTING OFF OXYGEN AS THEY GET BIGGER AND IT'S MAKING A GREAT NATURAL PARK SPACE."

First Energy isn't the only group looking to make an impact on our CO2 emissions problem.

The YSU legacy Forest program hosted a tree dedication in honor of the 2020 class of YSU Freshman.

Dr. Colleen McClean, a Professor at YSU said, "WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR PLANET AS OUR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM, SO THE TREES ARE OUR PLANTAIRY LUNGS."

THIS YEAR IS THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY and McClean offered some tips on how to reduce your impact on the planet.

"THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF NATURAL COMPOST THAT YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME. TAKE YOUR FOOD SCRAPS AND YARD SCRAPS AND COMPOST THAT TO USE AS A FERTILIZER."

McClean says planting your own trees can help as well, as per-acre OF a mature forest will reduce 2.5 tons of co2 a year, so as groups plant these forests, the trees will continue to grow and reduce CO2 emissions.