Tree Campus USA is a new, national program launched by the Arbor Day Foundation that recognizes and honors colleges and universities for effectively managing their campus trees as well as fostering the concept of urban forestry beyond their campus borders into the community.
It also encourages campus communities to reach out to their student population by involving them in service learning opportunities centered on forestry efforts as well as being stewards of environmentally sound and sustainable practices. Tree Campus USA is supported by a $750,000.00 grant from Toyota and the Arbor Day Foundation.
To become a member of this distinguished chapter of Tree City USA, Illinois State University had to present documentation that would fulfill the five (5) standards set forth by the Foundation. Those standards include: Establishing a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in an Arbor Day observance; and a service learning project aimed at engaging the student body.
The application was reviewed by the Tree Campus committee and was then sent to the Illinois Forester for approval. Illinois State University received notification of approval and was honored to be the first University/College within the State of Illinois to receive membership in December 2008.
Throughout our history Illinois State University has always placed a high priority on the need to preserve what our forefather Jesse Fell left for us, as well as continue to foster his vision of providing our students with a living laboratory of diverse plant species.
Effective management of our plant collection is vital to this preservation, as well as dedicated individuals that are willing to promote the importance of trees on our campus; trees not only provide us with an aesthetically pleasing landscape, but can reduce the amount of energy we use and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
By meeting the annual standards and being honored as a Tree Campus USA chapter, we create a campus that benefits the environment and installs pride in our University community.
As we look towards the future this recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation affirms and recommits our goals as a University and arboretum; to promote the planting of trees, continue excellent tree management practice, to offer opportunities for our students to become involved in the importance and benefits of urban forestry and community service, and to be the best stewards that we possibly can be in regards to environmentally sounds and sustainable practices and the importance of “being green.”
