UNCA earns Tree Campus USA designation
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — UNC Asheville has been designated as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the second year in a row.
The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation.
To receive the designation, a tree campus must meet five criteria, including creating a tree committee, a student service learning project and celebrating Arbor Day.
"The grounds department really wants our campus to function as an urban forest. And, if trees can provide all these services to our campus like preventing erosion, filtering storm water, providing shade for our students, then why not plant trees," environmental specialist Jackie Hamstead said.
The UNCA grounds department employs three full-time arborists trained in planting, caring for and maintaining trees on campus.
