Commitment to environment
nets town Tree City honors
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — The National Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, Neb., has once again named Manalapan a Tree City USA.
The honor is the 12th straight time Manalapan has been recognized.
"The Manalapan Shade Tree Committee is honored to have won the Tree City USA award for the 12th consecutive year," said Beth Ann Fazlibegu, chairwoman. "This award is never a foregone conclusion and we are certainly proud of it."
Fazlibegu said the volunteers on the committee have as their goal to ensure the health and survival of one of Manalapan’s finest resources, its trees.
"Our approach is multifaceted," she said. "Saving Manalapan’s oldest and largest trees in the wake of a building boom is a task in itself, but for us, it is paired with the responsibility of getting street trees planted in the new neighborhoods. This would never have been possible without the shade tree ordinance the Township Committee pushed for years ago."
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
To become a Tree City USA, a community must meet four criteria. The municipality must have: a tree board or department; a tree care ordinance; a comprehensive community forestry program; and an Arbor Day observance.
"Trees in our cities and towns help clean the air, conserve soil and water, moderate temperatures and bring nature into our daily lives," said John Rosenow, foundation president. "Tree City USA designation recognizes the work of elected officials, staff and citizens who plant and care for the community forest.
"Trees are a vital component of the infrastructure in our towns and cities and provide many environmental and economical benefits. A community and its citizens that recognizes these benefits and provides needed care for its trees deserves recognition and thanks," Rosenow said
In addition to serving the environment, the Manalapan Shade Tree Committee has been involved in bringing the great outdoors into the local school classrooms.
"Public education is another approach that we take," said Fazlibegu. "We visit township schools and encourage environmental appreciation and awareness. We are the only town in New Jersey that has a middle school shade tree program. In fact, the New Jersey Forestry Service is so impressed with it that they want to duplicate it for statewide use."
Also high on the Shade Tree Committee’s list of achievements is the township arboretum in front of the municipal building on Route 522.
Equally important, noted the chairwoman, is the fact that all of the work has been done with a group of volunteers, municipal forester Gary Lovallo and assistant forester Mike Olimpi.
"I’d say we’re very proud" of the accomplishments, Fazlibegu said.