Tree City, Tree Campus, and Tree Line USA
DEC staff assisting a western
New York Tree City
Tree City, Tree Campus, and Tree Line are programs sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation (leaves DEC website) (ADF) in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and DEC's Urban and Community Forestry program. These programs provide direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home.
In addition to the Tree City, Tree Campus, and Tree Line programs, ADF has launched two new programs which it currently maintains oversight of: Tree Campus K-12 and Tree Campus Healthcare. These programs for elementary schools and medical facilities encourage the management of trees for public health and education. Learn more about Tree Campus K-12 and Tree Campus Healthcare (leaves DEC website).
Tree City USA
The Tree City USA program "provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees" according to ADF. Becoming a Tree City is a great way for a municipality to start an urban forestry program, or celebrate the one they have. In order to become a Tree City USA a community must meet the four standards:
- a tree board or department
- a tree care ordinance
- a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita
- an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Becoming a Tree City connects a community to a network of other communities who care about their trees. It's a great way to get connected with your local urban forester and the Urban and Community Forestry program. To learn more about the program, the four standards, and resources for meeting them contact your local urban forester by finding your regional DEC office, and by visiting ADF Tree City USA (leaves DEC website).
Tree Campus Higher Education
The Tree Campus Higher Education program encourages universities and colleges to engage their student populations in urban forestry education and service learning while managing their campus trees. Being a Tree Campus shows commitment to the environment and promotes healthy trees. To become a Tree Campus a university or college must meet five standards:
- a campus tree advisory committee
- a campus tree care plan
- a campus tree program with a dedicated annual expenditure
- an Arbor Day observance
- a service learning project.
The Urban and Community Forestry Program and your local urban forester can help with ideas for service learning projects. To learn more about the program and the five standards visit ADF Tree Campus USA (leaves DEC website).
Tree Line USA
Utility companies are important partners in managing the urban forest for many communities. The Tree Line USA program, a partnership between ADF and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizes utility companies for adhering to best practices in arboriculture. The program encourages care maintenance of our urban forests and builds partnerships between utility companies and the communities in which they operate.
There are five standards to become a Tree Line USA:
- quality tree care
- annual worker training
- tree planting and public education
- a tree-based energy conservation program
- an Arbor Day celebration
To learn more about the program and the five standards visit ADF Tree Line USA (leaves DEC website).
Benefits of Becoming a Tree City, Tree Campus, or Tree line
The process of becoming a Tree City, Tree Campus, or Tree Line provides initial direction for an urban and community forestry program. The standards required for each certification will help a community, school, or utility get started towards annual systematic management of its tree resources. It builds relationships with DEC urban forestry program staff and NYS Urban Forestry Council which will help support the fledgling urban forestry program.
Benefits include:
Cobleskill Tree Board members learn from
Landis Arboretum Arborist Fred Breglia
- Improved public image for a community, school, or utility company
- Shared sense of pride in the efforts of a community
- Access to funding sources through Arbor Day Foundation and additional points on scoring for DEC Urban and Community Forestry grants
- Good news publicity - Arbor Day events are a great way to celebrate trees and volunteer efforts and reach a large number of community members
- Better tree care means even more benefits from trees - cleaner water, cleaner air, reduced electricity costs in the summer, and health benefits
If you still need more benefits, ADF has lists of the benefits of becoming (links all leave DEC website) a Tree City, a Tree Line utility, a Tree Campus Higher Education, a Tree Campus K-12, or a Tree Campus Healthcare.
How to Apply
If you're ready to apply to become a Tree City, Tree Campus, or Tree Line here's what you need to do:
1. Contact your local urban forester by finding your region if you haven't already been in touch. Applications are approved by regional urban foresters and letting them know you're applying is the first step.
2. Visit the ADF page for your program and create an account to apply online:
- Tree City USA Application Portal (leaves DEC website)
- Tree Campus USA Application Portal (leaves DEC website)
- Tree Line USA Application Portal (leaves DEC website)
Lists of Tree Cities, Tree Campuses, and Tree Lines in New York
Tree Cities
In 2021, New York had 170 active Tree Cities. We had 7 new cities join the ranks of Tree City USA recipients in 2021: Avon, Clifton Park, East Rochester, Town of Lake George, Village of Lake George, Nunda, and Town of Union.
View the complete list of Tree Cities in New York (leaves DEC website).
Tree Campuses
In 2021, New York had 23 Tree Campuses, including first-year honorees Daemen College.
View the complete list of Tree Campuses in New York (PDF).
Tree Line
New York has 5 Tree Line Utilities. We are happy to recognize them below.
| Utility Company Name | Years a Tree Line |
|---|---|
| Consolidated Edison Company of NY | 14 |
| Massena Electric Department | 17 |
| National Grid | 23 |
| Orange and Rockland Utilities | 21 |
| PSEG - Long Island | 8 |
