LINCOLN, Neb. – Berry College has been honored with 2018 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
"Tree Campuses and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of your school’s participation, the air will be purer, the water cleaner and your students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty the trees provide.”
The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Berry College 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 for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects. Currently, there are 364 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
“Being named as a Tree Campus USA for six consecutive years is just one of the awards that confirms Berry College as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world,” Eddie Elsberry, Berry’s director of agriculture operations, environmental compliance and sustainability, said. “Berry has developed a comprehensive Tree Canopy Management Plan, an Arboretum & Tree Walk and also employee students as part of our tree care team to teach and instill the value of proper tree care and canopy management.”
The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $51 million in campus forest management last year. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.
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