March 23, 2010 issue
EMU receives encouragement for Tree Campus USA grant application, will try again

By Amy E. Whitesall

 

Who doesn't love trees? They reduce cooling costs, help control storm water runoff, provide shade and scenery, and give the squirrels someplace to hide.

Last year, the Eastern Michigan University's grounds department spent $106,000 on the campus's 2,400-plus trees. It planted new trees, removed sick ones and maintained healthy ones. 

ESHADE TREES: These two Eastern Michigan University students enjoy some shade from a large tree near the main sidewalk through the middle of campus. The University recently applied for Tree Campus USA status, but will have to fulfill a few more requirements to achieve the designation.

"It makes things look a little better and people appreciate them," said Dieter Otto, director of custodial, waste management, motor pool and grounds services "We need to have an inviting environment."

At the end of 2009, EMU applied for Tree Campus USA status, a designation awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation that would give the University a significant hand in managing its trees.

Tree Campus USA designation allows an institution to apply for Arbor Day Foundation planting events — essentially a grant paid in trees and expertise. It's an attractive opportunity, and not just because it makes the squirrels happy. Eastern Michigan spent $64,000 just on nursery stock, mulch and labor for tree plantings last year.

The committee learned in late January that Eastern didn't meet a couple of key criteria — yet. But plans are still in place to fill those voids and apply again at the end of this year.

The Arbor Day Foundation started the Tree Campus USA program in 2008 to recognize colleges and universities that effectively manage their campus trees, work with the surrounding community to develop healthy urban forests and involve students in forestry-related service learning programs.

The inaugural "class" of 29 campuses nationwide included the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University.

To achieve Tree Campus USA status, a campus must:

• Form a Campus Tree Advisory Committee

• Have a campus tree care plan

• Dedicate a budget to support a campus tree program

• Observe Arbor Day

• Run a tree-related service learning project

Mike Dueweke, manager of EMU's Institute for Geospatial Research and Education, heard about Tree Campus USA through the Michigan Department of Natural Resource and the Environment. To get the application rolling (and satisfy the first requirement), he assembled a group of people from all over campus who have a stake in the welfare of the University's trees.

The group includes biology faculty, physical plant and grounds staff, an Ypsilanti city councilman, a master arborist, and representatives from student government, student life, Greek Life, GREEN (Gathering Resources to Educate about our Environment and Nature) and VISION (Volunteers Incorporating Service Into Our Neighborhoods).

"(The Arbor Day Foundation) wants it to be a student-led endeavor," Dueweke said. "They want to teach the concepts to the new ecologists. It's something to get (the students') feet wet and get them thinking."

The grounds department already has a plan in place — and a dedicated budget — to keep campus green and leafy. That covers requirements two and three to obtain Tree Campus USA status.

But EMU doesn't hold an annual Arbor Day celebration, and lacked an established tree-related, service-learning project.

The service learning component will be met by biology lecturer Jacqueline Courteau, who, once weather permits, will incorporate a campus-wide tree mapping project into the winter semester Biology 458 and 558 (both trees and shrubs) courses. The plan also calls for an Arbor Day observance, to be scheduled in either the spring or fall, depending on the academic calendar. Traditionally the last Friday in April, Arbor Day frequently falls during finals, but the foundation allows universities to schedule an alternate date.

"If we fulfill those requirements this year, we can reapply at year's end," Otto said. "We thought we could plan them for 2010 and that would be enough. The message we got from them was that commitments are fine, but they want to see the proof."