UMES is nationally recognized as a Tree Campus

By Gail Stephens

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore received national certification by the Arbor Day Foundation as an official Tree Campus during a tree planting ceremony April 26. For this designation, the university had to meet Tree Campus’ five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus treecare plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.

Students in Dr. Stephanie Stotts’ urban forestry class worked with the university’s grounds supervisor to pick a location (between the Pond and Court Plaza) to plant two red maples donated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). UMES’ Urban Forestry Program supports the university’s groundskeepers by conducting periodic tree inventories and through grants projects.

“The Tree Campus Higher Education Program recognizes that college campuses are ecosystems, providing a healthier environment for the students and community,” said Dr. Stephanie Stotts, an associate professor in UMES’ departments of Natural Sciences and Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, and organizer for the event. “Trees add beauty, reduce heat island effect by creating shade, can clean the air and reduce asthma rates, and help mitigate climate change.”

“We hope UMES’ involvement in the program seals our commitment to additional plantings on campus and the community and brings awareness to the field of urban forestry, which is growing at an impressive rate,” Stott said about the university which is known for its arboretum-style grounds.