ASU named 'Tree Campus USA' two years in a row

The Arbor Day Foundation has honored Arizona State University’s Tempe campus as a Tree Campus USA University for 2009, marking the second year in a row that ASU has received the honor.

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors college and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. Tree Campus USA is supported by a grant from Toyota.

“The Tree Campus USA program will have a long-lasting impact at Arizona State University as it engages college students and local citizens to plant trees and create healthier communities for people to enjoy for decades to come,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

“The school will benefit from exceptional tree-care practices on campus as it works with tree-care professionals in the community to improve the tree canopy in Tempe.”

ASU met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status. Those standards are 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 the institution of a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.

Last year, ASU planted 240 new trees to replace trees that were damaged by storms. The new trees include Sophora secundiflora (“Silver Peso”), Chitalpa, Ginkgo bilboa (Ginkgo), Pistache (Red Push), Shamel ash, Navel Orange and Mexican Lime, among many other varieties, according to Fernando Reyna, manager, Grounds Services and Arboretum.

The Arbor Day Foundation launched Tree Campus USA in the fall of 2008 by planting trees at 29 college campuses throughout the United States, including ASU.

More information about the Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA, or by contacting Mark Derowitsch, (888) 448-7337 or mderowitsch@arborday.org.