WSU Named 2019 Tree Campus USA by Arbor Day Foundation
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University has been named a 2019 Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. This is the ninth straight year Weber State has been recognized for its commitment to conservation and promoting healthy trees.
To obtain this distinction, Weber State met the five core standards for an effective campus forest management, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.
“We have a very supportive administration when it comes to trees,” WSU landscape manager Troy Bell said. “Those of us in the landscape department, we’re obviously passionate about trees and keeping everything looking good on campus. But some of the administrators are even more passionate than we are. They help fund us and our ideas.”
Weber State has more than 3,100 trees on campus and around 30 different species. Between 10-20 new trees are planted annually on campus during community planting events in the spring and fall. Ogden elementary school students often come help during the spring event, but precautions around COVID-19 limited this year’s event to staff only.
“Landscaping is not the only group making this happen,” Bell said of the Trees USA distinction. “It’s not just one department and not just a few people. It’s our whole community.”
About Tree Campus USA: Tree Campus USA is a national program, launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honoring colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit membership organization with more than 1 million members dedicated to planting trees . The foundation has helped plant 350 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Jessica Kokesh, social media editor
801-626-7316 • jessicakokesh@weber.edu- Contact:
Allison Barlow Hess, Public Relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu