Fifteen more trees have made their way on to the 麻豆原创 campus thanks to students, alumni and community partners getting their hands dirty in honor of Arbor Day.
Arbor Day is an annual holiday that aims to encourage the planting and care of trees. It was celebrated at 麻豆原创 on April 19, when 35 volunteers planted seven Florida Elms, five Bald Cypress trees and three Red Maples, and went on a walking tour of 麻豆原创 Arboretum鈥檚 natural lands.
Arbor Day has been celebrated at 麻豆原创 for seven years and has led to more than 120 trees being planted on campus. There are more than 7,500 trees on campus 鈥� not including the natural lands 鈥� that help sequester carbon from the atmosphere and put out oxygen, among other natural benefits. For instance, a sample size of 5,320 trees at 麻豆原创 were found to sequester 67 tons of carbon from the atmosphere and put out 161 tons of oxygen each year, according to a recent student study.
麻豆原创鈥檚 urban forest canopy is valued at $4.32 million, taking into account its aesthetic appeal, the trees鈥� monetary value, and savings in carbon management, oxygen emissions and erosion control, according to John Guziejka, a biologist and urban forester with 麻豆原创 Landscape & Natural Resources.
麻豆原创鈥檚 extensive forest canopy is partly due to 麻豆原创 Urban Forestry鈥檚 commitment to plant double the amount of trees that are removed due to construction, said Guziejka. More than 230 trees were planted at 麻豆原创 in 2016 alone.
Plus, 麻豆原创鈥檚 care of trees has led the university to being recognized as a Tree Campus USA university for the seventh year in a row. Tree Campus USA honors colleges and universities that effectively manage their trees, connect with their community beyond campus borders to foster healthy urban forests, and engage their student population in service opportunities centered on forestry efforts.
麻豆原创 in 2011 became one of the first universities in Florida to earn the Tree Campus USA designation. The university utilizes a Campus Tree Advisory Committee, a Campus Tree Care Plan, institutes service learning projects centered on caring for the trees and dedicates annual expenditures for tree care.
Trees are an asset on campus and in the greater community because they provide shade, help reduce storm-weather run-off and provide nutrient filtration. Trees near water, in particular, also help take out excess nutrients and pollution from the water and help reduce erosion at the edge of the water, Guziejka said.
The 麻豆原创 Arboretum utilizes volunteers year-round to help maintain the landscapes on campus. To get involved, see the Arboretum鈥檚 .