The University of Louisville has embraced this concept and for the 12^th consecutive year, has been named among the program of the Arbor Day Foundation.

The re-certification comes just ahead of this year’s National Arbor Day, April 29.

Tree Campus Higher 成人直播 was founded in 2008 to foster that tradition of excellence. The program provides a聽聽for colleges and universities to grow their community forests and achieve national recognition.

In Kentucky, the state Arbor Day is observed on April 1, and UofL held an Arbor Day celebration on that date to honor the 75th anniversary of the by on the Belknap campus in memory of two Hite supporters 鈥� Mike Power (1943-2015) and his son David Power (1971-2021). Participants took home 40 native pawpaw saplings grown at UofL to plant in their neighborhoods. The Health Sciences Center Green Team also planted an American Holly between the Abell Administration Building and the School of Nursing.

UofL has earned re-certification by the program for efforts to protect, expand and diversify its community of trees, to educate about the vital role of trees, and to create a campus students, faculty, staff and alumni are proud of.

UofL is one of 392 colleges and universities nationwide and nine in Kentucky recognized by the Tree Campus Higher 成人直播 program.

鈥淎 commitment to trees can significantly reduce the amount of energy the campus and community consume,鈥� said Justin Mog, assistant to the provost for sustainability initiatives at UofL. 鈥淧lanting and maintaining trees absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change. Green space provides important mental health benefits to students, faculty and staff, as well as encouraging physical activity.

鈥淚nvolving our students in tree-related service-learning projects helps educate the next generation about the importance of caring for the environment. The recognition builds pride among UofL and the wider community.鈥�

The designation means UofL has met or exceeded the foundation鈥檚 standards of care for the more than 2,000 trees that cover the 309-acre Belknap Campus.

鈥淭his honor represents a decade of dedication to the idea of trees as vital urban infrastructure 鈥� for shade and energy savings, food and wildlife habitat, storm water infiltration and soil stabilization, beauty and mental health, and clean air and carbon sequestration. We look forward to an even more leafy campus in the coming decade,鈥� said Justin Mog, assistant to the provost for sustainability initiatives.

The university was first recognized in 2010 for its comprehensive tree-care plan that guides tree selection, planting, maintenance and education. represent more than 130 species, including many native to the region. Among them are ash, dogwood, tulip poplar (the Kentucky state tree), oak, persimmon, magnolia and elm, including a rare American elm. Visitors to Belknap Campus can take that highlights some of these treasures.

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $51 million in campus forest management last year. The nonprofit foundation is a conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

To read UofL’s 12-page tree care plan, .

The trees join the more than 2,500 others on Belknap that bring shade, beauty and a sense of solitude and peace to our urban landscape. They are also a vital part of the city of Louisville鈥檚 tree canopy.

Earlier this year, the named the University of Louisville a Tree Campus USA for the eighth year. The designation means UofL successfully met five standards aimed at promoting healthy trees and student involvement.

At the Arbor Day celebration, a small group of students along with forestry experts and staff planted a native Shumard oak as well as a sawtooth oak on the lawn in front of University Pointe.

Bridget Abernathy, urban forestry coordinator with the Kentucky Division of Forestry, helped guide the planters, offering tips聽for digging a hole of the proper shape, height and width. She was especially adamant that the planters avoid the 鈥渕ulch volcano鈥� often seen in landscaping — mulch piled high against the tree trunk and sloping outward. The mulch should be in a very thin circle around the trunk and slope inward, allowing water to flow toward the tree, she said.

In addition, the UofL Sustainability Council launched its 鈥淎rbor Day to Earth Day鈥� to create a fund that would allow to invest the money using socially responsible investing methods, then use the proceeds to fund philanthropic projects. The goal is to raise $5,000, an amount that would then be matched by Just Money Advisors.

For the seventh year in a row, UofL was recognized as a Tree Campus USA. The city has also been named as a Tree City USA.

“How do we get that recognition? By paying attention to our trees as vital infrastructure. That means we try to not cut them down when possible, but continue to plant more and continue to maintain and respect our trees,” said Justin Mog,聽assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives at聽UofL. “Anything that helps us improve our environmental, social and economic responsibility, that’s what we’re all about.”聽

UofL groundskeepers care for more than 2,500 trees on Belknap鈥檚 309 acres.聽

Check out more from UofL’s Arbor Day festivities:聽