MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP – The Arbor Day Foundation has named Millstone Township a 2020 Tree City USA in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.
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, according to a press release.
Millstone Township achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s requirements: having a tree board or department; having a tree care ordinance; having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita; and holding an Arbor Day observance and issuing a proclamation, according to the press release.
“Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, which is based in Lincoln, Neb.
“The trees being planted and cared for by Millstone Township are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy to 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,” Lambe said.
According to the press release, 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 goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities, and inspiring five million tree planters by 2022.
According to the foundation, Millstone Township has demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for the community’s residents now and in the future.
