Arbor Day Foundation Names Stony Brook University a 2020 Tree Campus Higher Education Institution

Stony Brook University was recently named a 2020 Tree Campus Higher Education Institution for the eighth consecutive year. Tree Campus Higher Education, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges, universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

To obtain this distinction, Stony Brook University met the five core standards for effective campus forest management, including establishing a tree advisory committee, creating a campus tree care plan, dedicating annual expenditures for that campus tree program, observing Arbor Day, and sponsoring student service learning projects.

Alaina Claeson, Horticulturist/Landscape Coordinator at Stony Brook University commented, “Each year across our campuses, the environmental, sustainability, operations and grounds teams work to plant approximately 70-75 new trees in an effort to decrease our impact on the natural environment and further the University’s commitment towards sustainability. Those efforts, coupled with the maintenance and care for our existing trees and landscapes, has helped Stony Brook create park-like outdoor spaces that our Seawolf community can enjoy for years to come."

Over the past year, many have been reminded of the importance of nature to our physical and mental health. Our Stony Brook campus is proud to provide spaces of refuge and reflection to students, staff, faculty and the community. Read more about our efforts to preserve green spaces on campus on the Sustainability website.