LSU Earns 2021 Tree Campus USA Distinction from Arbor Day Foundation for 10th Year

BATON ROUGE – LSU was honored by the Arbor Day Foundation with 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition for its commitment to effective urban forest management. The university has received the Tree Campus USA designation 10 years in a row.

“Achieving this recognition each year would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the entire landscape services staff, as well as efforts by student volunteer organizations, to care for these magnificent campus trees,” said Jay Ruffin, urban forestry manager.

The Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. LSU achieved the distinction by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five standards, including maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning project. Currently, there are 393 campuses across the United States with this recognition.

“Trees not only play a vital role in the environment, but also in our daily lives,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to the overall wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff.”

Trees on campus and in urban spaces can lower energy costs by providing shade cover, cleaner air and water, and green spaces for students and faculty. In addition, trees improve students’ mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for studying and gathering.

“We look forward to playing a role in developing the next generation of environmental stewards through these types of programs and initiatives,” said Ruffin.

The Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Its Tree Campus Higher Education program began in 2008 to encourage colleges and universities to plant trees on their campuses.

More information about the program is available at treecampushighered.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities, and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.  

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners, and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.