What is Tree City USA?
Tree City USA is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and celebrate their public trees. Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the US Forest Service, the Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976.
More than 3,400 communities have committed to becoming a Tree City USA. They have achieved Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day
2023 Tree City USA Communities in Minnesota
What is the Tree City USA Growth Award?
The Arbor Day Foundation gives out Tree City USA Growth Awards to participating Tree City USA communities that demonstrate higher tree care and community engagement levels during the calendar year. All Tree City USA communities applying for recertification can apply for a Growth Award during the online renewal. First-time Tree City USA applicants are not eligible for a Growth Award.
The Growth Award recognizes major milestones and annual activities in five categories that combine to build sustainable community forestry programs over the long term. Each activity has a value between 1 and 10 points. Communities must document activities that total at least 10 points—from any of the subcategories—to receive the Growth Award for the calendar year.
Growth Award Winners for Minnesota
What is Tree Campus Higher Education?
Formerly Tree Campus USA, Tree Campus Higher Education is a certification program that helps colleges and universities establish and sustain healthy community forests. College campuses can receive annual Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by meeting five standards: maintaining a campus tree advisory committee, having a campus tree-care plan, allocating finances to a campus tree program with dedicated annual expenses, celebrating Arbor Day, and completing a service-learning project.
Current Tree Campus Higher Education Schools
What is Tree Line USA?
Tree Line USA recognizes best practices in public and private utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist to benefit communities and citizens. Utility companies must comply with five core standards each year: quality tree care (consistently following industry standards), annual worker training, tree planting, and public education, a tree-based energy conservation program, and an Arbor Day celebration.