2012 Tree Campus USA

Missouri State named a 2012 Tree Campus USA

March 12, 2013

 

SPRINGFIELD — In recognition of Missouri State University’s conservation and forestation efforts, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Missouri State as a Tree Campus USA.

Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Tree Campus USA is supported financially by Toyota, which helped launch the program.

“Becoming a Tree Campus USA member doesn’t only show our commitment to campus but also our community,” said John Clark, assistant director of facilities management at Missouri State. “It creates a healthier community, reflects our pride, makes the campus more inviting to the public and increases its usage.”

Missouri State 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 toward trees, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.

“Since 2007, MSU has taken inventory of all 2,000 plus trees on campus, implemented a tree management plan, hired a landscape architect to assist with reforesting the right trees in the right places, hired an additional arborist to manage the inventory and developed a planting plan that has been the guide for our reforestation efforts,” said Bob Eckels, director of facilities management at Missouri State.

According to Clark, there are more than 2,200 trees on the Missouri State campus, 150 of which were planted as part of the construction of Foster Recreation Center and of the renovation of Kings Avenue. Clark added that there are plans for an additional 45 trees in the near future.

 “Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment,” said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for all of us.”

The Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota have helped campuses throughout the country plant hundreds of thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested $23 million in campus forest management last year. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.