For the fifth consecutive year, UNC Charlotte has earned the Tree Campus USA Award. Given by the Arbor Day Foundation, this national honor recognizes colleges and universities that are committed to urban forest management and that engage staff and students in conservation goals.
Established in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree Campus USA currently has more than 250 colleges and universities that have achieved this distinction.
UNC Charlotte earned this recognition 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.
“Maintaining and planting new trees on campus has a multitude of benefits,” said Tyler Sytsma, University sustainability coordinator. “They make our air cleaner by absorbing carbon dioxide, prevent soil erosion and are the perfect canopy for relaxing in one of our hammock stations.”
More than half of the University’s 1,000 acres remains wooded. Prior to new construction, careful consideration is taken to preserve existing trees or to include new trees in landscaping.
The Sustainability Office and Grounds Department of Facilities Management will hold a tree planting on Wednesday, April 3, in observation of Earth Month. To register, email sustainability@uncc.edu, or sign up on Niner Engage.