University of Illinois Facilities and Services

There's a lot to celebrate this Arbor Day!

1. For the sixth year in a row, the Urbana campus has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA. Since 2008, the Tree Campus USA program has identified colleges and universities that meet core standards of tree care and community engagement, including convening a Campus Tree Advisory Committee, fostering student interest and involvement with campus trees, and publishing a Campus Tree Care Plan.
2. A new Kentucky Coffeetree was recently planted near the National Soybean Research Center on behalf of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) 2020 as part of the celebration. Learn more about how this tree was selected in support of campus tree diversity and iCAP goals.
3. Finally, there's a new Tree Champion at the university: a Carolina silverbell (Halesia Carolina), located near the President's House, will be honored as the largest tree of its kind in the State of Illinois. Established in 1962, the Illinois Big Tree Register lets people recognize the largest native tree species in Illinois. Champaign County is one of the top-five counties in the state for the number of Champion Trees present. This is UIUC's second Tree Champion.

There will also be time to ask questions of tree experts when you join the Arbor Day festivities on Zoom on Friday, April 30, at noon. To participate, email F&S Associate Director for Sustainability, Morgan White at mbwhite@illinois.edu.