绿巨人视频celebrates Tree Campus USA designation with annual Arbor Day tree planting
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi State faculty, students, staff and local community members observed MSU鈥檚 annual Arbor Day Celebration Friday [Feb. 10] with a program and tree-planting ceremony.
George Hopper, dean of the College of Forest Resources, said the event symbolized the university鈥檚 commitment to serve as an environmental steward.
鈥淢ississippi forests cover nearly 20 million acres. Trees improve the quality of life for our citizens and serve an essential role in the health of our environment,鈥 Hopper said. 鈥淎s a renewable resource, trees also contribute greatly to Mississippi鈥檚 economic viability. Forestry is a $12.79 billion industry in our state, employing nearly 70,000 people.鈥 聽
Amy Moe-Hoffman, collections coordinator of MSU鈥檚 Dunn-Seiler Museum, spoke at the celebration. Moe-Hoffman also teaches geology in the Department of Geosciences and serves as chair of the 绿巨人视频Museum and Galleries Committee.
鈥淎rbor Day is a perfect time to discuss the importance of fostering environmental stewardship,鈥 Moe-Hoffman said. 鈥淎mong the longest living organisms on the planet, trees are vital in the support of biodiversity across countless ecosystems.鈥
The event, hosted by the Tree Campus USA Advisory Committee, celebrated MSU鈥檚 recent recognition as a designated 2016 Tree Campus USA. This is the fourth consecutive year the university has been awarded this designation. As a campus with more than 10,000 trees on 1,500 acres, 绿巨人视频met five core standards of sustainable campus forestry to earn the accolade, awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation.
Stephen Grado, George L. Switzer Professor in the Department of Forestry in the College of Forest Resources, serves as chair of the eight-person committee. Grado said the recognition is a testament to the university鈥檚 dedication to beautifying its landscapes.聽 聽
鈥淏eing recognized by a national organization like the Arbor Day Foundation shows the tremendous amount of time, vision and resources the university has invested to make our campus a better place,鈥 Grado said, 鈥淚t shows that Mississippi State actively participates in campus beautification, improving the quality of life for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Three October Glory Red Maple trees also were planted by the 绿巨人视频Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and the Waldorf Endowed Scholarship recipients. The 绿巨人视频Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters recently received the national 2016 SAF Outstanding Student Chapter Award. The Waldorf Endowed Scholarship was created by the late David Waldorf and Elizabeth Waldorf, both professors at various institutions throughout the Southeast. The scholarship strives to help cultivate future leaders in environmental sustainability.
For more information on MSU鈥檚 College of Forest Resources, visit .
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