Cranbury was named a 2019 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.
Cranbury achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, according to information provided by the Arbor Day Foundation.
“Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community firsthand,” Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in the statement. “The trees being planted and cared for by Cranbury 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.”
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 unprecedented goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring 5 million tree planters by 2022, according to the statement.
With Tree City USA recognition, Cranbury has demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for Cranbury residents now and in the future.
More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.