USC Aiken Named Tree Campus USA

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AIKEN, SC (05/04/2018) The Arbor Day Foundation has once again designated the University of South Carolina Aiken a Tree Campus USA®.

This program recognizes those institutions that promote healthy trees and enrolls the campus community, including faculty, staff, and students in its conservation efforts.

"Your entire campus community should be proud of this sustained commitment to environmental stewardship," wrote Lauren Weyers, program coordinator for the Arbor Day Foundation.

To obtain this distinction, USC Aiken had to meet Tree Campus USA's five core standards for sustainable campus forestry. These include: establishing a tree advisory committee; maintaining a campus tree-care plan; dedicating fiscal resources for the campus tree program; hosting an Arbor Day observance; and conducting student service-learning projects.

"Brian Enter, our senior facilities engineer, ensures this important criteria is met each year. He has a sustainable tree care plan, which unfortunately, due to the health of certain trees, may require their removal and replacement.

"He also leads an advisory group and works with students on implementing our tree management plan," Dr. Sandra Jordan said.

This advisory group includes, Brian; Jeffrey Gattis, USC Aiken landscape manager; former Student Government Association President Jacob Yarbrough; Dr. Andy Dyer, of the Department of Biology and Geology; and Tom Rapp, former City of Aiken horticulturist and arborist.

"If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, and energy use," Weyers wrote in her letter of congratulations.

"University of South Carolina Aiken is stepping up to do its part. As a result of your commitment to effective urban forest management, you are helping to provide a solution to these global challenges."