Hundreds of towns and cities across America are achieving public attention and national recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA.   Communities of any population can qualify-from less than one hundred to the millions. Tree City USA recognition can make a strong contribution to your community's pride. It can serve as a blueprint for planting and maintaining your community's trees and it will put you in touch with other communities and resources.

The National Arbor Day Foundation presents a beautiful walnut-mounted plaque, a large Tree City USA flag, and special highway signs for community entrances to each Tree City USA.

For more information on how your community can become a Tree City USA or for assistance with enrollment criteria please contact your local Georgia Forestry Commission office or the Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator at 678-476-6227.

 

Tree City Enrollment Criteria

Standard 1: A Tree Board or Department

A tree board is a group of concerned citizens, usually volunteer, charged by ordinance to develop and administer a comprehensive city tree management program. Tree boards usually function with the aid of professional foresters.

Standard 2: A City Tree Ordinance
The ordinance should be formulated by the tree board or department, and should determine public tree-care policies for planting, maintenance, and removals. A sample ordinance can be obtained by contacting the Georgia Forestry Commission or writing to the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Standard 3: A Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at Least $2/Capita
To be named as a Tree City USA, a town or city must annually spend at least $2 per capita for its community forestry program. In determining the size of your city's budget, consider all funds spent for tree care. Along with the budget for the street tree department or board, include items such as the park department's tree expenditures, dead tree removal, and other labor and administrative expenses associated with the management of the city forest. Many communities find that they are already spending far more than $2 per capita.

Standard 4: An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation
The mayor of your community must issue a proclamation declaring the observance of Arbor Day in your community, and an Arbor Day celebration must take place.

 

Tree City USA Applications - Application deadline is December 31

Please mail all new and recertification applications to:

Georgia Forestry Commission

1055 East Whitehall Road

Athens, GA 30605

Attn: Sherrie Gabriel

Contact information:   Sherrie Gabriel - (706) 542-6880 or sgabriel@gfc.state.ga.us

                                Joan Scales - (678) 476-6226 or jscales@gfc.state.ga.us

Budget Worksheet

Tree City USA Growth Award

Georgia Tree Cities 2006 (pdf)