For the eighth consecutive year, Virginia Tech has been recognized for its best practices in campus community forestry through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA program.

Virginia Tech achieved Tree Campus USA recognition by meeting five national standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicating annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning projects.

Since 2007, students have planted more than 600 new trees on campus. Students and administrators come together each fall for Sustainability Week and each spring for Earth Week to plant dozens of trees across campus.

“Virginia Tech’s commitment to expanding and maintaining a healthy tree canopy on its campus is consistent with aspirations from the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment approved by the Board of Visitors,” said Jason Soileau, assistant vice president for the Office of University Planning. “This contributes to Virginia Tech being recognized as one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses by a variety of national publications.”

Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor colleges and universities for promoting healthy forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Written by Abbey O’Farrell.

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