Planting saplings for a brighter future

For the eighth consecutive year, MSU was named a Tree Campus USA, joining the ranks of several U.S. universities and colleges who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a tree-friendly campus. Tree Campus USA designations are made by the Arbor Day Foundation based on an application outlining adherence to five criteria: the existence of a campus tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, annual expenditures dedicated to campus trees, observance of Arbor Day and a service learning project.

The campus tree advisory committee must include representatives from several stakeholder groups, including students (undergraduate or graduate), faculty members, staff and facility management and community members, who often serve as the resident arborist or forester. The urban forestry department at MSU regularly works with the Bozeman office of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to improve urban forestry on campus and within the larger community. Often, MSU students are called upon to conduct research and survey urban forestry. Students are also considered a useful resource in maintaining a healthy forest in the Bozeman Urban Forestry Management Plan.

Also mentioned in the management guidelines is a campus tree-care plan. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the plan must include a purpose, identification of a managing authority, protection and preservation policies, goals for the campus, a tree damage assessment and a communication strategy.

A campus applying for Tree Campus USA designation must also outline their annual expenditures dedicated to carrying out the campus management plan. The Arbor Day Foundation recommends an annual budget of approximately $3 per full-time enrolled student. Costs included in the expenditures are the cost of trees planted, the cost of equipment and labor involved in the maintenance and planting of trees and education costs.

The campus must also observe Arbor Day in some way. Traditionally, MSU holds a ceremonial tree planting on Arbor Day, the last day of April. However, last April, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last step to be designated a Tree Campus USA is for the institution to host a service learning project intended to engage the student population and the larger community in the ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation. Across the country, these projects have taken the form of volunteer tree plantings, internships or partnerships with urban forestry departments. Moving forward, MSU plans to keep planting trees in the name of Arbor Day and will continue to seek designation as a Tree Campus USA.