Arbor Day Planting to Honor Colorado State University’s Recognition as a Tree Campus USA

For the second straight year, Colorado State University is being honored by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota Motor North America, Inc., as a Tree Campus USA for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and communities in conversation about urban tree care.

To celebrate the recognition and in observance of Arbor Day 2013, CSU Facilities Management and the Colorado State Forest Service will lead a volunteer tree planting event at 9 a.m. April 26 on the main campus. A group of volunteers, many of them CSU students, will plant a variety of trees at the south end of Ammons Hall. The planting is part of an effort to retain CSU’s urban forest, which boasts more than 4,500 trees on the main campus. A tree tour around the Oval also will be offered to provide participants with information about campus trees.

“Urban forests bring a necessary beauty to campus that would be lost without consistent upkeep. Meeting the requirements of being a Tree Campus USA allows CSU to show its devotion to the urban forest,” said Luke Finn, CSU forestry student and student representative on the campus Tree Advisory Committee. Other committee members include CSU Facilities Management and Forest and Rangeland Stewardship staff, as well as the Fort Collins City Forester and CSFS Fort Collins District personnel.

Tree Campus USA is a national program that honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Last year was the first time CSU received official Tree Campus USA recognition.

“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,” said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

CSU retained the designation by continuing to meet 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. CSU also is required to demonstrate that it continues to ensure the protection and maintenance of the campus’ urban forest, reduce hazardous tree risks to public safety, and maintain a sustainable campus forest through tree species diversity and best management practices.
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