The N.C. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program has announced the recipients of the 2024 Tree City USA, 2024 Tree Campus Higher Education, and 2025 Tree Line USA designations.
The communities of Charlotte, Concord, Davidson, Gastonia, and Wilmington have been awarded the Tree City USA Growth Award for 2024. To qualify, a community must have been designated a Tree City for at least one year. This award recognizes community efforts toward environmental improvement, enhanced tree care, and strengthened community tree care programs.
The Tree City USA program, a national initiative, provides a framework for cities and towns to manage community forestry by meeting four core urban forestry standards.
“Planting trees and responsible urban forest management at the local level including community involvement and participation in urban forestry recognition programs are critical to sustaining healthy forest resources in North Carolina,” stated Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. He added that those achieving these distinctions are reinforcing their commitment to a healthy urban tree canopy, tree conservation, reducing stormwater runoff, and providing clean air and water.
The Tree Campus Higher Education accolades are available for accredited colleges and universities that promote healthy trees, while utility companies are eligible for the Tree Line USA honors by balancing utility needs with urban forest care.
The application and award processes for Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education, and Tree Line USA are managed by the NCFS Urban and Community Forestry program.
More details about the N.C. Forest Service urban and community forestry programs and the list of award recipients are available on their official websites.
