UIC Named ‘Tree Campus USA’ by Arbor Day Foundation

The University of Illinois at Chicago has been named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.

At last count, UIC had 5,376 trees of 101 different species on its 250-acre urban campus on the near-west side of Chicago.

“UIC is pleased to get recognition for our dedication to our trees,” says Cynthia Klein-Banai, associate chancellor for sustainability. Campus trees are important not only for aesthetics, she said, but also for reducing the “heat-island” effect and to offset carbon emissions.

UIC earned recognition by meeting required standards for sustainable campus forestry and by sponsoring student service-learning projects.

“Students throughout the country are passionate about sustainability and community improvement, which makes the emphasis on well-maintained and healthy trees so important,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the foundation. “Achieving Tree Campus USA recognition sets an example for other colleges and universities and allows students a chance to give back to both their campus community and the community at large.”

Tree Campus USA was launched by the foundation in 2008 and is supported by a grant from Toyota.

The number of trees on the UIC campus will grow on Thursday with a 10:30 tree-planting celebration at several locations, hosted by the foundation. Free t-shirts and lunch will be provided for volunteers.

Volunteers who register 24 hours in advance will be entered in a drawing for an Amazon Kindle Fire. For more information or special arrangements, contact Andrew Lueck.