REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Informational Report on the City's Annual Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote Sustainability and Environmental Protection
BACKGROUND
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission to inspire people to plant, celebrate and nurture trees. It was founded in 1972 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Arbor Day. Through its Tree City USA program, over 3,600 cities and towns are honored as Tree City USA communities for their commitment to planting and nurturing trees. The Growth Award was created to recognize those communities that demonstrate higher levels of tree care and environmental stewardship. This award recognizes innovative programs and projects as well as increased commitment of resources for urban forestry.
DISCUSSION
Since the inception of the Municipal Tree Program in 1960, Santa Clara has maintained a commitment to manage, preserve, and expand trees in our urban forest. The City of Santa Clara has been designated a Tree City USA community for 37 consecutive years. In addition, through various annual activities aimed at supporting and maintaining our sustainable municipal forestry program, the City has been presented with the Growth Award 24 times. Towns and cities who have been recognized as a Tree City USA or with the Growth Award take great pride in this distinction.
In 2024, the City of Santa Clara met all criteria to maintain Tree City USA status and receive another Growth Award for our municipal tree maintenance and preservation program. The Department of Public Works (DPW) expects to receive this important recognition once again and is awaiting official confirmation from the Arbor Day Foundation.
Each year on Earth Day and Arbor Day, people across the country show their support for environmental protection and reflect on the important role that trees play in our world. Trees help clean our air, reduce the effects of climate c...
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