St. John’s Earns 2012 Tree Campus USA Recognition

St. John’s University has been named one of the nation’s 2012 Tree Campus USA® institutions of higher learning. Conferred by the Arbor Day Foundation on January 25 as part of its Tree Campus USA program, the designation signifies the University’s success in promoting the health of its trees and in engaging students in related service-learning projects. The program was launched in 2008 by the foundation in partnership with Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Building on the University’s earlier achievements as a participant in the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation’s Million TreesNYC initiative, St. John’s was able to meet the foundation’s criteria by establishing a tree advisory committee and a campus-wide tree-care plan; allocating dedicated funds; and developing Arbor Day events as well as an Academic Service-Learning (ASL) component.

Noting the collaborative nature of this undertaking, Thomas Goldsmith, director of energy and environmental conservation, cited the contributions made by Paula Lazrus, Ph.D., assistant professor of the Discover New York (DNY) program, as well as other faculty and staff members. “Dr. Lazrus engaged students in an ASL project gathering information that will enable the Department of Information Technology to create an up-to-date campus tree database,” Goldsmith said. “This tool will be used by the University going forward and will also serve as an interactive tree map for students, staff and others who are interested.”

Student sustainability coordinators, with the help of Richard Stalter, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences, and William Nieter, assistant dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and director of the Environmental Studies Program, along with William Bernor, director of grounds, and Lester Noga, foreman in the Office of Facilities, took all steps necessary to enable St. John’s to apply for consideration by the Tree Campus USA program. Landscape architect Louis Fusco and arborist Peter Schmidt also took part.

Gratified that their hard work paid off, Raelynne Lee ’13G, sustainability coordinator, said, “This journey has encouraged us to continue to improve our sustainable landscaping practices. Receiving national recognition for our hard work will further increase campus awareness that these practices not only add beauty to our urban environment, but also reduce campus energy consumption.” Peter Barker ’13C, sustainability coordinator, added, “We are excited to be a sustainability model for other New York schools and urban campuses nationwide.” 

The Sustainability Committee is in conversations with the Arbor Day Foundation about plans for the foundation to sponsor an event on Arbor Day 2013 involving the planting of 50 trees and plans are underway to develop a campus arboretum.