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April 26, 2016
Contact: Kevin Sayers, 517-284-5898
DNR honors Michigan communities, utilities, colleges with annual Tree USA awards
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Arbor Day Foundation today announced 122 Michigan communities have been certified as a “Tree City USA" for their promotion and commitment to proper tree care during 2015. (A full list of communities certified is available in the PDF file available below for download.)
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Tree City USA program, which promotes proper tree care and management in urban areas and calls attention to the economic, health and aesthetic benefits trees offer.
To be eligible for designation as a Tree City USA, communities must have:
- A tree board or department responsible for tree care.
- A tree-care ordinance.
- An annual work plan and tree-care budget of at least $2 per capita.
- An annual Arbor Day celebration and official Arbor Day proclamation.
“In honor of the program’s anniversary this year, we are encouraging communities to renew their commitment to public tree care by recertifying or working toward certification for the first time,” said Kevin Sayers, DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program manager. "Celebrating Arbor Day, which is this Friday (April 29), is the first step in the process."
One new community, Sault Ste. Marie, was added to the roster of Tree Cities in Michigan this year.
As part of the companion program for utilities, International Transmission Company and the Lansing Board of Water and Light renewed their certifications for Tree Line USA.
Likewise, three college campuses – the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University and Calvin College – were recertified through the Tree Campus USA program. One new college, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, also achieved certification for the first time.
For more information about how to become a Tree City USA or the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program, contact Kevin Sayers at 517-284-5898 or visit www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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