DNR honors Michigan Tree City USA communities; utilities, colleges also recognized
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 05/06/2014 10:42 AM EDT|
Communities, utilities and colleges promote tree care. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2014
Contact: Kevin Sayers, 517-284-5898 or Ed Golder, 517-284-6241
DNR honors Michigan Tree City USA communities;
utilities, colleges also recognized for tree care
The Department of Natural Resources and the Arbor Day Foundation today announced that 125 Michigan communities have been awarded “Tree City USA" certification for their promotion of community forestry in 2013. (A full list of communities certified is available in the PDF file available for download below.)
Communities are certified for work accomplished in 2013 and were presented with their awards materials in early April to coincide with Arbor Day and spring tree planting projects.
The Tree City USA program promotes proper tree care and management in urban areas and calls attention to the economic, health and aesthetic benefits trees offer.
To be eligible to participate in the Tree City USA program, a community must have:
- A designated board or department responsible for tree-care issues.
- A local tree ordinance.
- A budget for public tree care of at least $2 per capita.
- An annual Arbor Day celebration and official Arbor Day proclamation.
“Receiving the Tree City USA award is something to be proud of,” said DNR Urban Forestry program coordinator Kevin Sayers. “This designation signifies a community’s commitment to caring for urban trees as a valuable resource in the places we live.”
Along with the Tree City USA program, the DNR recertified two Michigan utilities – the Lansing Board of Water and Light and International Transmission Company – through the Tree Line USA program.
Three college campuses – the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University and Calvin College – were also certified through the Tree Campus USA program.
These programs encourage utility companies and universities to offer tree-care education programs and sponsor tree-planting events as part of their commitment to maintaining healthy urban forests and trees. To find out more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree USA programs, visit www.arborday.org/programs.
For more information about the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program, contact Kevin Sayers at 517-284-5898 or sayersk@michigan.gov or visit the program’s website at www.michigan.gov/ucf.