Clifton Community Partnership

Sustainability article:
Emory Named Tree Campus USA University
February 24, 2010
Source: Community Partnership Update/March 2010

Emory's Campus (tree canopy)

Emory University was recently honored by the Arbor Day Foundation as a 2009 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. Emory is the fifth university in Georgia to be named a Tree Campus USA University.

"Emory takes pride in a campus with natural beauty of open spaces, and we are pleased to be presented with this award," said Robert Hascall, Emory's Vice President of Campus Services, "The University's No Net Loss of Forest Canopy policy is more stringent than DeKalb County’s; and as an early adopter of tree preservation, Emory has an established and comprehensive management plan for our natural environments."

"Emory will benefit from the exceptional tree-care practices on campus as it works with tree-care professionals in the community to improve the tree canopy in Atlanta," said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

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.

Emory University 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.

The Arbor Day Foundation launched Tree Campus USA in the fall 2008 by planting trees at nine college campuses throughout the United States. More information about Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.