The time for trees is now—trees in forests, trees in parks, and trees in every place they can make a difference. Tree Campus Healthcare is one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s many recognition programs that aim to increase and promote urban forestry in communities. The Arbor Day Foundation not only wants to reforest decimated forests but also plant trees in urban spaces. The benefits of having green spaces within urban areas are immeasurable. Research shows that patient interaction with green space, gardens, parks, and natural areas helps the human condition. Trees specifically can improve respiratory health, lower urban temperatures, improve mental health, and provide restorative properties.
The Tree Campus Healthcare program recognizes health institutions that make a mission-aligned impact on community wellness through tree education, investment, and community engagement. Recognized healthcare facilities demonstrate a deeper understanding of the intersection of nature and human health through activities like distributing free trees to community members and using trees to create therapeutic landscapes on campus. Each facility must meet five program standards throughout the year: the formation of an advisory committee, development of a tree care plan, participation in a community forestry project, sponsorship of a celebration event or education campaign, and a suggested commitment to financial investment in tree projects, education events, and community outreach.
In 2020 the Arbor Day Foundation recognized 24 healthcare facilities across the United States as Tree Campus Healthcare facilities. These institutions earned this recognition by demonstrating a commitment to improving community wellness through tree planting, education, and community engagement. If Arbor Day Foundation is going to continue to grow the nation’s urban forests, we will need help from dedicated and knowledgeable organizations. In 2019 the Arbor Day Foundation partnered with the Davey Tree Expert Company to build the Tree Campus Healthcare program because they understood the critical effect that trees have on communities and human health and wellness. Their expertise in sustainability and urban forestry helps partner healthcare facilities achieve Tree Campus Healthcare recognition for their commitment to healthy trees.
Both Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas noted the guidance they received from Davey in their applications for recognition. Cleveland Clinic partnered with Davey on multiple community engagement events, which helped them meet program Standard 3 – Community Forestry Project. UT Southwestern’s Tree Management Plan prepared by Davey Resource Group helped complete Standard 2 – Campus Tree Care Plan. The leaders at Davey Tree helped both of these centers achieve their goals for cultivating green spaces to promote community wellness on their campuses.
Giving back to the community is central to Cleveland Clinic’s partnership with Davey. “In August, Cleveland Clinic employees, community members, and Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation employees came together to clean up a wooded lot and prune trees and brush. Davey Tree was also there to help give instruction and haul away yard waste created… Cleveland Clinic staff, volunteers from Davey Tree, and Famicos Foundation did a socially distanced planting in the Hough neighborhood.” – From Cleveland Clinic’s 2020 Tree Campus Healthcare application.
Leaders in facilities and grounds management at UT Southwestern leverage Davey’s expertise in the work they do to nurture trees on and adjacent to campus. In addition, their Tree Management Plan prepared by Davey Resource Group specifically acknowledges the institution’s vision to promote and preserve the urban forest and to seek Tree Campus recognition. “UT Southwestern ‘adopted’ the trees in the Harry Hines median section of the Medical District. Trees were overgrown with suckers, cross branches, and broken branches. We cleaned up the trees to create a healthy, aesthetically pleasing median for all of Dallas that drives through the medical district.” – From UT Southwestern’s 2020 Tree Campus Healthcare application.
Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning administration, said Davey Tree is proud to partner with Arbor Day Foundation on such an important initiative. “Healthy trees generate many benefits for both the campuses and the areas they serve,” she said. “Davey Tree is proud to help healthcare facilities work with their surrounding communities to make that important connection between trees and human health.”
