NDSU has earned 2019 Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation.

The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities and their administrators for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and personnel in the spirit of conservation.

“Your entire campus community should be proud of this sustained commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Lauren Weyers, program coordinator. “If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, and energy use. NDSU is stepping up to do its part. As a result of your commitment to effective urban forest management, you are helping to provide a solution to these global challenges.”

To receive the recognition, NDSU met five standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus USA, including:

• Establishment of a tree advisory committee

• Evidence of a campus tree-care plan

• Dedicated annual expenditures for a campus tree program

• An Arbor Day observance

• Sponsorship of student service-learning projects

“NDSU has been a Tree Campus USA for 9 years now. We are the first of two colleges in North Dakota to receive this recognition so far,” said Martin Shervey, Facilities Management landscape associate coordinator. “Being a Tree Campus USA shows the public that we care about trees and tree care on and off campus through our designated annual expenditures for tree care and also engaging Fargo citizens through a service learning project. We even celebrate Arbor Day in the fall during Homecoming Week to let students get involved in tree planting on campus.”

Other members of the tree advisory committee include Pete Zimmerman, Joe Zeleznick, Todd West, Allen Lee and Kalli-Jo Olson.

Shervey said the committee is always looking for more student involvement in the group. He can be reached at martin.shervey@ndsu.edu for details.

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