Arbor Day Foundation Names Stony Brook University a 2020 Tree Campus Higher Education Institution
Stony Brook University was recently named a 2020 Tree Campus Higher Education Institution
for the eighth consecutive year. Tree Campus Higher Education, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges,
universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and
staff in the spirit of conservation.
To obtain this distinction, Stony Brook University met the five core standards for
effective campus forest management, including establishing a tree advisory committee,
creating a campus tree care plan, dedicating annual expenditures for that campus tree
program, observing Arbor Day, and sponsoring student service learning projects.
Alaina Claeson, Horticulturist/Landscape Coordinator at Stony Brook University commented,
“Each year across our campuses, the environmental, sustainability, operations and
grounds teams work to plant approximately 70-75 new trees in an effort to decrease
our impact on the natural environment and further the University’s commitment towards
sustainability. Those efforts, coupled with the maintenance and care for our existing
trees and landscapes, has helped Stony Brook create park-like outdoor spaces that
our Seawolf community can enjoy for years to come."
Over the past year, many have been reminded of the importance of nature to our physical
and mental health. Our Stony Brook campus is proud to provide spaces of refuge and
reflection to students, staff, faculty and the community. Read more about our efforts
to preserve green spaces on campus on the Sustainability website.