BGSU honored with 'tree campus' designation by the Arbor Day Foundation

University recognized for meeting five rigorous standards established by the national foundation

Furthering its commitment to environmental sustainability, Bowling Green State University recently was honored with Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its dedication to effective forest management and learning community engagement in conservation efforts.

The University was recognized for meeting five rigorous standards established by the foundation, including maintaining a tree advisory committee, creating a campus tree-care plan, funding tree planting efforts, offering student service projects and Arbor Day observance.

With multiple tree plantings on campus each year, including species native to Ohio, BGSU is helping to lower its energy costs, provide cleaner air and offer green spaces for studying and gathering.

"From emission reduction to campus beautification, trees play an important part in the University's ongoing sustainability efforts," said Dr. Nicholas Hennessy, manager of sustainability at BGSU. "This recognition underscores the BGSU learning community's commitment to creating public good through adopting environmentally friendly practices and policies, which includes tree planting and sustainability."

Guided by the Office of Campus Sustainability, the University's ongoing sustainability efforts have led to BGSU being named among the nation’s most environmentally responsible institutions.

BGSU scored a perfect 99 out of 99 in the annual Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges 2023 rankings and was the only university in Ohio to make the review’s Green College Honor Roll.

The University is also on target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions annually by an average of 4% to achieve institutional carbon neutrality by 2040, as outlined in the BGSU Climate Action Plan. Additionally, BGSU offers a voluntarily-supported Student Green Initiatives Fund that has contributed nearly $2 million to student-proposed projects across campus since 2010.

Started in 2008, the Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus Higher Education program has facilitated the planting of nearly 32,000 trees on college campuses nationwide through the assistance of more than 25,000 students.