MSU recognized as 2019 Tree Campus USA
Nick Schrader
January 31, 2020
Michigan State University was honored with 2019 Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
"Tree Campuses and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of MSU's participation air will be purer, water cleaner and students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty the trees provide.”
The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. MSU achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project. Currently there are 385 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
Jerry Wahl, Campus ArboristSome of the trees on our campus were here when this university was founded in 1855. Others have been planted by faculty, students and maintenance personnel throughout our history. This designation is a testament to the hard work our predecessors have done and shows our continued commitment to protecting our urban forest into the future.
The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $51 million in campus forest management last year. This work directly supports the Arbor Day Foundation’s Time for Trees initiative — an unprecedented effort to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspire 5 million tree planters by 2022. Last year, Tree Campus USA schools have collectively planted 34,515 trees and engaged 33,432 tree planters — helping us work toward these critical goals.
"This is our third straight year earning the Tree Campus USA certification for MSU. This recognition acknowledges the hard work and dedication of Landscape Services’s team of Arborists and all those at IPF that protect, design and install trees across campus," said Matt Bailey, Landscape Services Manager.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.
