Case Western Reserve University has been awarded the 2018 National Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA certification for the second year in a row.
By obtaining an annual Tree Campus USA designation, CWRU is joining the City of Cleveland in its commitment to make Cleveland once again the Forest City, a nickname Cleveland held in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The city only has 19% tree cover and hopes to attain 40% cover by 2040 through the Cleveland Tree Plan.
About the award
The Tree Campus USA certification means the campus has a tree care plan in place, a tree advisory committee and a commitment to hold both an Arbor Day event and a tree-related service learning event annually. At CWRU, this includes the Arbor Day Celebration, the second annual Root Rake Out and the engagement of the Landscaping and Grounds Department in improving campus tree mulching and planting practices.
The Office of Energy and Sustainability seeks to host more tree-related activities and service learning this year to continue receiving this designation.