Environment DEC
From the May 2009 issue
Tree City USA Recognizes 100+ New York State Communities
Each of more than 100 cities, towns and villages across New York State recently received national recognition as a "Tree City USA." At the awards ceremony, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's State Forester, Robert K. Davies, gave opening remarks and spoke about current issues facing forestry in New York State.
The City of Poughkeepsie holds the record for longest tenure as Tree City -- 30 years.
The state forester administers the Tree City Program for the state, and the National Arbor Day Foundation certifies and gives the official designation of Tree City to communities meeting the standards. The City of Poughkeepsie holds the record in New York State for the distinction of having been a Tree City USA for 30 years.
Tree City USA Program
The Tree City USA Program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. It provides direction, assistance, public attention and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities.
To qualify as a Tree City USA, a community must apply for the award each year and is required to establish
- a tree board or department which appoints a shade-tree committee staffed by volunteers who help care for municipal trees or advise those who do
- a tree-care ordinance
- a comprehensive community-forestry program administered by the shade-tree committee
- an annual Arbor Day observance and proclamation by the local tree board or department
