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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Richard Zagrzecki
Communications Coordinator
832-842-4722
rzagrzec@central.uh.edu

UH Earns Tree Campus USA Recognition for Third Straight Year

Houston, Feb. 27, 2018 - For the third consecutive year, the University of Houston has received Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation.

UH achieved the certification by meeting Tree Campus USA's five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and a student service-learning project. UH is one of 344 campuses in the United States to receive this honor.

"To receive this certification for three consecutive years is a great honor and a testament to the dedication the University places on preserving its thriving tree population," said Michael Mendoza, sustainability manager for the Office of Sustainability.

UH has instituted several programs dedicated to the care, maintenance and growth of its trees. It has a Campus Tree Advisory Committee that meets regularly to discuss and set goals for tree care on campus. It also has hosted numerous service projects and events to educate and promote urban forestry. This includes the annual Rock the Campus event in the fall semester, hosted by the Metropolitan Volunteer Program in partnership with the Office of Sustainability.

The Campus Tree Advisory Committee has also been evaluating and measuring the tree canopy cover in order to accurately assess the campus landscape. Because UH is located in an urban setting in the nation's fourth largest city, an ample tree canopy cover is beneficial because it enhances air quality, provides shade and cooler temperatures, improves overall aesthetics, and sequesters carbon, which reduces overall greenhouse gases.

More information about the Tree Campus USA program and the Arbor Day Foundation can be found on its website.


About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 45,300 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.