Planting trees on campus yields many benefits
CONTACT MEDIA David Thompson, [email protected], 301-860-4311
(BOWIE, Md.) Sometimes you need to get your hands dirty, literally and figuratively, in order learn important lessons. This was something that some students at Bowie State University learned when they took part in the university’s Earth Week activities last month.
The university is now closer to being a member of Arbor Day Foundations thanks to its Arbor Day Tree Planting. Tree Campus Higher EducationProgram to be recognized for its commitment to trees in solving global problems, including climate change.
Since 2008, Tree Campus Higher Education has been recognizing green universities and colleges. There have been 392 Tree Campuses that have been recognized to date. BSU will join the Maryland HBCU community along with Morgan State University and UMES who plan to apply for membership.
BSU and its Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay partner hosted the Arbor Day Tree Planting as part the Peace Park revitalization. The Alliance for the Chesapeake BayIt is a non-profit that works in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to improve lands, and waters.
Six native trees were planted by over 35 volunteers. These trees will provide important benefits for air and water quality, sequester carbon (a process which can reduce the amount carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) and provide habitat for wildlife and other pollinators. The Peace Plot, which was designed by the BSU Student Government Association in 2007, in memory of a tragic student death, was where the trees were planted.
Others, including John King (Maryland gubernatorial Candidat) were there to help celebrate the tree planting and the university’s application for Tree Campus status; campaign members were also among the volunteers.
“This year Arbor Day celebrated its 150th anniversary and the Maryland Forest Service wanted Bowie State as well as the other Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Maryland to celebrate the wonderful day by planting a tree, said Marian Honeczy, supervisor of Urban & Community Forestry for the Maryland Forest Service, Department of Natural Resources, who attended the event.
Honeczy said that Bowie State was the winner by planting six trees on its campus. She pointed out that trees are a cheap and very important solution to many problems. Trees provide shade and reduce heat islands effect, can clean the air, reduce asthma rates, and help in climate change. Everyone needs to plant one tree.
Students who helped to beautify and green their campus with tree plantings had an additional benefit.
The Alliance Capacity Building Initiative director Jenny McGarvey said that the tree planting was part a multi-year partnership with BSU. This partnership focuses on giving students hands-on, meaningful experiences that create connections between them and their local environment. She stated that the Alliance hopes actions such this inspire BSU students, who will be stewards for trees and clean drinking water in their communities, and encourage them into environmental careers.
BSUs Sustainability & Energy Coordinator Jabari S. Walker concurs about the events benefits.
He said that you can sometimes learn more about sustainability from being outside than from studying in a classroom.
It was a learning opportunity for our volunteers and students to learn about the proper digging process and the types of trees that were being planted. Walker said that most of our students had never tried to plant trees before. It was also a great way to get away from the classroom or virtual environment, get dirty, enjoy nature, and help the environment.
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