ABERDEEN – The township has earned the designation of Tree City USA for 2019 from the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.
The foundation’s mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, according to municipal officials.
Aberdeen Township earned the designation by meeting the program’s four 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.
“Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community firsthand,” Arbor Day Foundation President Dan Lambe said in a press release.
“The trees being planted and cared for by Aberdeen are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy 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.
The foundation recently launched the “Time for Trees” initiative with goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring five million tree planters by 2022, according to the press release.
Aberdeen officials have demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and are doing their part to help address environmental challenges for residents now and in the future, according to the press release.