June 9, 2022鈥擝ecause of its ongoing commitment to the 1,579 trees and about 90 species on campus, the Arbor Day Foundation has named (海角社区CI) a Tree Campus USA for the 10th year in a row.
海角社区CI is among 411 campuses across the nation to earn the Tree Campus USA distinction for their work in 2021. The annual recognition is for campuses whose members develop and maintain a healthy tree canopy and create programs to make the tree population sustainable.
鈥淭rees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives,鈥� said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. 鈥淗aving trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and faculty鈥檚 overall well-being.鈥澛�
海角社区CI earned the distinction by observing five basic components listed by Tree Campus Higher Education. They include annual monies set aside for the campus tree program, maintaining a tree advisory committee, coordinating an annual Arbor Day observance, and arranging a student service-learning project connected with the campus trees.聽
鈥淚 think this is a great honor,鈥� said Sustainability Manager Roxanne Beigel-Coryell. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting to see that our campus has put such a priority caring for our trees for an entire decade.鈥澛�
Landscape Manager Jason Hughes credited Beigel-Coryell, 海角社区CI students and gardening specialists Juan Cardenas and Eric Nicasio with keeping up the standards that enabled 海角社区CI to receive this designation for 10 years in a row. He also gave credit to the 14 dedicated staff members who maintain and manage the more than 100 acres of gardens, parks and athletic fields year-round.聽
Included in the work of the Facilities team is the care and maintenance of the additional 2,326 trees in University Glen, the housing development adjacent to the University.
鈥淥ur landscape maintenance crews were still on campus during the pandemic, allowing continued care and health of the campus tree inventory,鈥� Hughes said.
The native trees planted this year included southern live oaks, southern magnolias, California sycamore trees and California pepper trees, but climate change and the ongoing drought make it challenging to maintain the trees, even if they are native to California, Beigel-Coryell said.
鈥淪ometimes there are trees that might be native to the area, but we鈥檝e seen over the years that some do well and some don鈥檛,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust because something is native doesn鈥檛 mean it will adapt well to climate change.鈥澛�
The Arbor Day 2021 observance involved students from the Green Generation Club and Facilities staff planting two magnolia trees in front of Placer Hall, where the 海角社区CI Police are housed. 聽
A big part of qualifying as a Tree Campus is a solid plan for increasing and maintaining the tree canopy on campus, which includes the expertise of local expert arborist John Fleming of Greene Tree Care in Camarillo. With guidance and input from Hughes, Fleming plans and tracks the campus tree plan with a software program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a way of keeping inventory of the trees, which can streamline the work we do,鈥� Fleming said. 鈥淛ason is very hands-on, and keeps tabs on what needs to be done, then we do an analysis. This way, we have a consistent management and inventory mapping program. 聽
Fleming said planning with care provides not only a beautiful campus, but a campus that is healthy for people and the overall environment.聽
鈥淭rees can help us fight climate change and reduce carbon,鈥� Fleming said. 鈥淭hey provide shade and cooling and are a great habitat for a variety of species. Trees also add so much value to a property.鈥澛�
The goal for next year, Hughes said, is to add more trees along the main entrance to the campus on University Drive and around the playing fields in the north part of the property, adding that 鈥渓andscape services is looking forward to another successful year and the continued care of 海角社区CI open space areas for all the campus community to enjoy.鈥澛�
For more on Tree Campus USA: .