Stony Brook Recognized By Tree Campus USA

March 25, 2014

By Vani Nayyar

Stony Brook University has been designated a Tree Campus USA university by the National Arbor Day Foundation, in recognition of its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. The Tree Campus program was started in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and has recognized over 190 Tree Campuses, with its most recently approved schools still to be announced.

 Stony Brook University earned its recognition through the implementation of five core standards that promote the health of the trees and student involvement to improve their forests. The university met these five core standards by establishing a Campus Tree Advisory Committee, developing a Campus Tree Care plan, allotting annual expenditures to fund the tree care plan and involving community members in the observance of Arbor Day. By introducing their inaugural Growing Red Days last summer, Stony Brook University was able to get students involved in beautifying the campus while teaching them important planting techniques and methods.

These goals and standards helped shape and define the campus’ vision to foster a healthy, safe, and attractive campus forest. The work of the committee ensures that all aspects of the Stony Brook community are being represented and that safe and proper planting techniques are being used throughout the campus. The purpose of the Stony Brook Campus Tree Care Plan is to illustrate and further implement proper tree selection and planting, tree protection and maintenance, and storm mitigation. This program spurred members of the Stony Brook community to get more involved in improving the campus forest by giving students a chance to learn through demonstrations and campus community plantings throughout the academic year. With the help of community members, Stony Brook has planted over 400 trees this year and has improved its planting program.

Arbor Day is an important day of celebration for Stony Brook University. Last Arbor Day, Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. welcomed New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle to campus to plant native trees donated by the Department of Environmental Conservation in the North Entrance Meadow as part of a restoration project to replace trees downed by Hurricane Sandy last Fall. This year, planning has begun to celebrate the Tree Campus USA designation with an Arbor Day planting on Stony Brook’s Campus.

 For more information on this initiative, please contact:
Stony Brook University
Office of Sustainability
E-Mail: sustainability@stonybrook.edu