ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Urban and Community Forestry Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Promote the Goals of the Tree Campus USA Program Managed and Delivered by the Arbor Day Foundation

BACKGROUND:

To recognize the Tree Campus USA program's efforts to engage college and university campuses in urban forestry best management practices. Under the administration of the Arbor Day Foundation ("ADF"), Tree Campus USA will help America's colleges and universities demonstrate practices that protect and enhance America's urban forests. The program promotes the goals of excellence in urban forestry management through the recognition requirements of cores standards in tree management, connectivity with the broader campus community and the creation of service learning opportunities for the student body population.  

WHEREAS:  The National Association of State Foresters, ("NASF") and ADF desire to support a comprehensive community understanding of and participation in managing urban forests in America's communities;

WHEREAS:  NASF is a membership organization of state agencies of foresters interested in good forestry practices;

WHEREAS:  ADF develops, administers, and maintains the Tree Campus USA program;

RESOLUTION:

Now, therefore be it RESOLVED that the National Association of State Foresters:

• ENDEAVORS to encourage state forestry agencies to consider participating in the Tree Campus USA program with the assistance and support of ADF;
• ENDEAVORS to encourage state forestry agencies to provide a staff contact to ADF that will field local questions regarding Tree Campus USA and assist in the facilitation of the application process;
• ENDEAVORS to encourage state foresters to attend appropriate respective state campus award ceremonies for Tree Campus USA;
• ENDEAVORS to encourage state forestry agencies to pursue appropriate recruitment of respective state colleges and universities to encourage participation and certification in the Tree Campus USA program;
• RECOGNIZES the complimentary efforts of the Tree Campus USA program and other well established urban forestry management recognition programs, Tree City USA and Tree Line USA to cultivate new forestry based partnerships on the community level all with the common purpose of promoting healthy trees along the streets and highways of America;
• EXPRESSES its appreciation of that effort; and
• ENCOURAGES its members to consider the values embodied in the Tree Campus USA program.

NASF ACTION:

(X) Approved

DATE OF ACTION:

October 1, 2008