2020 Illinois Tree Campus
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.... 2020 ILLINOIS TREE CAMPUS � ILLINOIS Facilities & Services 2020 Illinois Tree Campus A Tree Care Plan for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign December 30, 2020 Contents 2020 Illinois Tree Campus .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Contents .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Standard 1: Campus Tree Advisory Committee .................................................................................................................. 1 Background .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Campus Tree Advisory Committee .................................................................................................................................. 1 2020 Committee Members ................................................................................................................................................. 2 2020 Meeting Schedule ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Standard 2: Campus Tree Care Plan...................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Purpose of Tree Care Plan ............................................................................................................................................. 2 2. Responsible Department ................................................................................................................................................ 3 3. Campus Tree Advisory Committee .............................................................................................................................. 3 4. Campus Tree Care Policies ............................................................................................................................................ 3 5. Protection and Preservation policies and procedures ................................................................................................ 7 6. Goals and Targets ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 7. Tree damage assessment .............................................................................................................................................. 18 8. Prohibited practices. ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 9. Definitions of terminology related to campus trees. ................................................................................................ 19 10. Communication strategy ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Standard 3: Dedicated Tree Expenditures.......................................................................................................................... 20 Grounds Tree Program Budget ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Tree Program Additional Details .................................................................................................................................... 20 Standard 4: Arbor Day Observance .................................................................................................................................... 21 Event Description ............................................................................................................................................................. 21 Standard 5: Service Learning Projects ................................................................................................................................. 22 Facilities & Services Internship for Increasing Trees on Campus ............................................................................. 22 South Arboretum Woods Rehabilitation - update ........................................................................................................ 22 Red Oak Rain Garden - update ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Standard 1: Campus Tree Advisory Committee Background The mission of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I) is to enhance the lives of citizens in Illinois, across the nation, and around the world through our leadership in learning, discovery, innovation, engagement, and economic development. The mission of Facilities & Services (F&S) is to provide and maintain “a physical environment that is conducive to supporting learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development at the University of Illinois.” F&S is responsible for oversight of campus trees. Campus is committed to educating the future leaders of the world, especially in regard to grand societal challenges like environmental sustainability. The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) oversees the development of the strategic plan for campus sustainability, called the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP). One objective in our 2020 iCAP is to increase the number of trees on campus by 1,500 by FY 24 and by 3,000 by FY30. Other objectives include developing a resilient landscape strategy, one that focuses on climate resilient trees. At Illinois we recognize that trees are an important asset for our campus and the community. They provide habitat for diverse species, sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and have been shown to have a positive effect on human behavior. Each year, we celebrate the environment with major events during April for Earth Week and October for Sustainability Week. In 2015, we added an annual Arbor Day celebration and since 2016 we have been recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Campus Tree Advisory Committee The Campus Tree Advisory Committee was created in 2015 by the Executive Director of F&S in conjunction with seeking Tree Campus USA designation. This committee is an advisory body to the Grounds department at F&S and to the campus community on matters relating to campus trees. Responsibilities for 2020 include: 1. Recommend communication plan for announcing and celebrating the Tree Campus USA designation. 2. Plan an Arbor Day observance event for Arbor Day (last Friday in April). 3. Assist with maintaining Tree Campus USA status, and submittal of annual application. 4. Identify and support student service learning project(s). 5. Provide input regarding a Tree Replacement and Damage Policy for campus. While responsibility for campus trees is assigned to specific units, including Grounds and the Arboretum, the Campus Tree Advisory Committee assists by providing guidance for future planning, input to a comprehensive campus tree plan, education of the campus community about the benefits of trees, and development of a community connection related to our campus and community trees. The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is an important part of the overall Tree Care Plan, and it is complementary to other related committees on campus, including the Sustainability Working Advisory Teams (SWATeams), the Architecture Review Committee, the Campus Beautification Committee, the University Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, the Academic Senate’s Committee on Campus Operations, and the Resilient Grounds Strategy Advisory Committee. All of these committees work together to support the physical infrastructure and beauty of the U of I campus. 1 The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is asked to meet regularly during the spring and fall semesters and as needed during the summer months. Committee members are identified annually in January by the Executive Director of F&S, and there is no term limit for committee membership. 2020 Committee Members Kevin McSweeney, chair Director of Arboretum Ryan Welch Superintendent of Grounds, F&S; acting Horticulturist Morgan White Associate Director for Sustainability, F&S Brent Lewis University Landscape Architect, F&S Gary Kling Associate Professor of Crop Sciences Jay Hayek Extension Specialist in Forestry Andrew Lamoreux Forestry Supervisor, City of Champaign Meredith Moore Sustainable Programs Coordinator, iSEE Maddie Smith Student Aditya Bhansali Student - second semester only Ricardo Zapata Student - first semester only Julia Marsaglia Student - second semester only Sinead Soltis F&S Sustainability Intern - second semester only 2020 Meeting Schedule The committee was continued from the original committee (started on January 22, 2015). In 2020 the first meeting was held on February 24, and the agenda included a review of our approved Tree Campus USA designation from 2019, planning for Arbor Day 2020, a review of the Campus Tree Plan, an update on the almost complete items, and other announcements