St. Johns River State College recently issued the following announcement.
St. Johns River State College (SJR State) has been recognized as a 2020 Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation. This marks the eighth consecutive year the College has received this distinction for its promotion of healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
In a letter to SJR State, Arbor Day Foundation President Dan Lambe said, “Over the past year, many have been reminded of the importance of nature to our physical and mental health. Your campus trees provide spaces of refuge and reflection to students, staff, faculty, and the community. Thank you for your contribution to this work. Your entire campus community should be proud of this work and the leadership of Melissa Miller and the committee.”
The five core standards for effective campus forest management SJR State met to receive the 2020 Tree Campus recognition included “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.”
According to SJR State Senior Vice President Miller, “Since we began our Tree Campus USA efforts, we have planted scores of trees on all of our campuses. Many of these trees were planted to honor people who devoted their careers to the College. One retiree wrote to me and expressed his sincere gratitude for this tribute. He said he told his wife maybe their grandchildren would sit under the tree someday to study and enjoy the beauty that trees bring to our world. Trees are an investment in our future.”
The College’s first Tree Campus USA status, granted by the Arbor Day Foundation, was obtained in 2013, following more than a year of strategically planned efforts by faculty, staff and students. The College’s projects included preserving healthy, attractive and sustainable wooded vegetation on each campus, as well as conducting educational outreach efforts and service projects.
Original source can be found here.
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