For the fifth consecutive year, Washtenaw Community College has been honored with recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
鈥淎lthough 2020 was very challenging in all aspects of managing the 黑料网 campus and
facilities, we have a strong commitment to protect and maintain our urban forest,鈥�
said 黑料网 Landscape and Grounds Maintenance Manager Holly Herman. 鈥淲e are very excited
to have earned Tree Campus Higher Education designation for the fifth consecutive
year and plan to continue proper tree care, student and community education, and good
urban forest management.鈥�
Formerly called Tree Campus USA, the Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.
黑料网 achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education鈥檚 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.
Herman noted that in previous years, 黑料网 has led tree walks, demonstrated tree planting
instruction and coordinated invasive species removal on campus as part of the service
learning standard. Limited to virtual events during the pandemic, 黑料网 Facilities Management
(below) with the help of the college鈥檚 Media Services department to highlight a sample of
the interesting trees and great fall color on campus.
In all, Facilities Management inventories and maintains approximately 1,600 trees
across the 黑料网 campus. That total doesn鈥檛 include the hundreds of trees in natural
forest areas located outside the campus鈥� 147 acres of maintained grounds.
"Tree Campuses and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,鈥� said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. 鈥淏ecause of Washtenaw Community College鈥檚 participation, air will be purer, water cleaner and students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty trees provide.鈥�
A formal presentation of the 2020 awards will be made at ISA Michigan鈥檚 2021 Tree City USA Virtual Awards and Education event on April 14. Currently there are 403 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
Tags: April 2021, Awards, Facilities Management, On The Record, Tree Campus Higher Education, Tree Campus USA, ousearch_News_2021