Feb. 6, 2013
The Catholic University of America has been named a 2012 Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation, the second consecutive year the campus has received the distinction.
To earn the title, college campuses must meet five standards set by Tree Campus USA, a national program created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.
These standards include a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning projects.
As part of meeting the standards, the University's tree committee worked with an arborist to develop a program for the maintenance, planting, and preservation of campus trees that aligns with the University's strategic and master plans, according to Chris Vetick, assistant director of grounds and fleet maintenance.
"The careful planning and execution for a tree program will help ensure that our campus will enjoy all the environmental, aesthetic, and social benefits that trees provide for future generations," Vetick said.
Since April 2008, more than 250 trees have been planted on campus with student and staff participation. The Office of Facilities Operations has teamed with Campus Ministry and student organizations such as the CUA Green Club to recruit student volunteers. For its tree planting events, the University partners with Casey Trees, a D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and protecting the city's tree canopy.
The next tree planting day in collaboration with Casey Trees is scheduled for March 2.
Catholic University's dedication to sustainable initiatives also extends to its use of power sources. The University was recently ranked among the EPA's top 20 colleges and universities in the nation for its use of green power.
For more information on the University's sustainability efforts, visit green.cua.edu/news.cfm .
"The main reason for our success...[has been] the University's ongoing commitment to sustainable initiatives and a goal to maintain and enhance our living environment," Vetick said.
More information about Tree Campus USA is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA .