Towson University recognized by Arbor Day Foundation for fourth consecutive year

By Phaedran Linger ’22 on April 28, 2022

Towson University is being recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation for effective urban forest management for the fourth year in a row.
 
Tree Campus Higher Education, an Arbor Day Foundation program, honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
 
To obtain the Tree Campus USA distinction, the campus must meet the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry. This includes establishment of a tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures to the campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.
 
"Trees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives,” says Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and faculty’s overall wellbeing.”
 
While national Arbor Day is the last Friday of April, Maryland observes Arbor Day on the first Wednesday of the month. TU Office of Student Activities, Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility[BROKEN LINK] and Office of Sustainability collaborated to host events throughout the month, including a tree planting at the Glen Arboretum and screenings of the documentary films “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code” and “Kiss The Ground.”
 
The Tree Campus Higher Education program recognizes the benefit of trees on campus for the environment and students. Trees establish appealing green spaces to study or hang out which, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, positively impacts students’ mental health and cognition. The trees also promote a sustainable ecosystem, help to reduce campus energy costs, and produce cleaner air and water. 
 
TU advocates for protecting native Maryland trees and ensuring they thrive on campus. As of fall 2021, more than 100 of the 120 tree species native to Maryland are growing on TU’s campus. Most of the trees are spread throughout the Glen Arboretum and range from large, fully established trees to newly planted saplings. To learn more, take the Trees of TU Walking Tour. 

TU also has 13 trees registered as part of the Maryland Big Tree Program, Located throughout the central campus, the Glen and the Athletic Precinct, the large trees have been on campus for 80 years or more. The Southern red oak is the largest at 99 feet tall. Find out more about our big trees with our interactive map. 
 
As part of its commitment to sustainability, TU brings goats to the Glen annually to eat invasive species and clear the way for restoration work. Learn more about the research and restoration efforts within the Glen Arboretum and sustainability on campus.

Phaedran Linger is a senior majoring in mass communication at TU. She is a student editorial assistant for University Marketing & Communications.