Arbor Day Foundation awards university with Tree Campus recognition

For the fifth straight year, the University of North Georgia (UNG) earned the Tree Campus Higher Education recognition for its commitment to effective urban forest management. Currently, 403 campuses across the United States have this recognition.

An Arbor Day Foundation program, Tree Campus Higher Education honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

"Receiving the Tree Campus recognition for the fifth year in a row demonstrates UNG's commitment to protecting our greenspace, promoting canopies, and signaling to the community the importance of trees in our learning and working environments," said Adam Strzemienski, assistant director of facilities for capital planning and sustainability.

To obtain this distinction, UNG met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry. Standards included maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for a campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects. The Arbor Day observance was optional in 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Strzemienski said UNG conducts routine care to existing trees and has engaged professionals to help guide actions to protect the oldest trees. Students, faculty and staff also help promote and expand green spaces through the president's Committee on Sustainability and the Tree Advisory Committee.

"Seeing this level of buy-in from students is very encouraging and is evidence of their commitment toward a greener, healthier campus," Strzemienski said.

For more information, visit Tree Campus Higher Education website.