EMERSON—The Borough of Emerson was named a 2021 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, based in Lincoln, Neb., to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management.
Emerson achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree-care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
“Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in the announcement. “The trees being planted and cared for by Emerson ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for.”
Planting trees in an urban space comes with a myriad of benefits past the recognition of this program.
Urban tree plantings help reduce energy consumption by up to 25%, which will reduce general energy costs and help with the overall cooling of the city as well. In addition, members of the community benefit from properly placed trees as they increase property values from 7% to 20%.
Trees also positively affect the local ecosystem by helping to clean water and create animal habitats to encourage biodiversity.
More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
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.
Its vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.
Borough makes it happen
We requested Emerson’s Arbor Day proclamation. It’s a good read:
WHEREAS, in 1872 J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees; and
WHEREAS, this holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska; and
WHEREAS, Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world; and
WHEREAS, trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife; and
WHEREAS, trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products; and
WHEREAS, trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community; and
WHEREAS, trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Danielle DiPaola, Mayor of the Borough of Emerson, do hereby proclaim Friday, April 29, 2022 as Arbor Day on the community of Emerson.
I urge all citizens to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands to support our city’s urban forestry program; and
Further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden hearts and promote the well-being of present and future generations.
— Borough of Emerson