Yuma A "Tree City USA" For Third Time
Date:
03/01/2010Summary:
Honoring the City of Yuma for its commitment to community forestry, the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation has named Yuma a Tree City USA for the third consecutive year.Contact:
Arbor Day Foundation Recognizes City's Efforts for 3rd Consecutive Year
Yuma, Arizona - Honoring the City of Yuma for its commitment to community forestry, the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation has named Yuma a Tree City USA for the third consecutive year.
"We commend Yuma's elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest," wrote John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation, in a letter to the Mayor's office. "Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority."
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
Yuma must meet four benchmarks to qualify as a Tree City USA community: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
"We recognize the value of trees, not just for aesthetics, but for air quality and property values and we will do what we can while we can to keep ours in the best possible condition," said City Administrator Mark Watson, alluding to cost-cutting measures the City has proactively undertaken.
Some of the benefits of trees in communities:
- They moderate climate, conserve water and provide habitat for wildlife.
- Trees in urban areas reduce the heat island effect caused by pavement and buildings.
- Properly placed trees can increase property values, and buildings in wooded areas rent more quickly, with tenants staying longer.
- Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.
About the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental and education organization of nearly 1 million members. Its mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More on the foundation and its programs can be found at the Arbor Day Foundation web site. (This link will take you to an external website that is not part of the City of Yuma official website.)
More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA. (This link will take you to an external website that is not part of the City of Yuma official website.)
