Photo By Chief Petty Officer Patrick Gordon | PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland (Nov. 18, 2024) - Pax River leadership and Environmental...... read more read more
Pax River leadership and Environmental personnel gathered Nov. 18 for the Tree City USA tree planting and Arbor Day proclamation signing.
Naval Air Station Patuxent River was named a 2024 "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of the installation’s commitment to effective forest management. The award marks the 35th consecutive year NAS Patuxent River has earned the title of a Tree City USA.
NAS Patuxent River is one of more than 3,577 Tree City USAs, with 47 percent of the U.S. population living in a recognized Tree City. The Tree City USA Program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The installation received the recognition by meeting the Tree City programs four requirements of having a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance.
Arbor Day was first proposed in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture as a specialized day set aside for the planting of trees and was observed by the planting of more than 1 million trees in that state.
“Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and world,” said Capt. Douglas Burfield, NAS Patuxent River Commanding Officer during the proclamation signing. “Trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, lower our heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife.”
This year’s observance was moved to November to not interfere with Earth Day activities on base, which coincided with a peak planting timeframe for the type of tree chosen to mark the occasion, a Willow Oak. The Willow Oak is native to Maryland and a high-value tree species to for birds, mammals, and various local insects.
To learn more about the Tree City USA program, visit https://www.arborday.org/our-work/tree-city-usa .
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2024 16:16 |
| Story ID: | 485589 |
| Location: | PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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