Berkeley Heights Township : Arbor Day Foundation Names Berkeley Heights Tree City USA®

Press release from the Berkeley Heights Township:

April 23, 2021

Berkeley Heights was named a 2020 Tree City USA® by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Berkeley Heights achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirement: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation.  "The trees being planted and cared for by Berkeley Heights are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life.  Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it's through  volunteer engagement or public education."

If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time.  Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and protection from extreme heat and flooding.  The Arbor Day Foundation recently launched the Time for Trees initiative to address these issues, with unprecedented goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring 5 million tree planters by 2022.  With Tree City USA recognition, Berkeley Heights has demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for Berkeley Heights residents now and in the future.

More information on this program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

About the Arbor Day Foundation:  The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.  More information is available at arborday.org.

This press release was produced by the Berkeley Heights Township. The views expressed here are the author’s own.