WUSTL named Tree Campus for fourth year

A variety of tree species grace the walkway between the South 40 and the Danforth Campus. (Credit: David Kilper/WUSTL Photos)

Washington University in St. Louis is a Tree Campus USA for the fourth year in a row, the Arbor Day Foundation recently announced.

Tree Campus USA is a national program established in 2008 to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.

WUSTL achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.

Currently, the Danforth Campus is home to roughly 4,000 trees, said grounds manager and horticulturalist Kent Theiling. Bald cypress, Valley Forge elm, ginkgo, swamp white oak and tulip poplar are among the 46 different tree species on campus. Theiling’s favorite tree? The big green ash on the north side of Mudd Field.

The Arbor Day Foundation, which sponors the program in partnership with Toyota Motor Corp., is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of 1 million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Tree Campus program can be found here.