Arbor Day Foundation names Hanscom Tree City USA community

  • Published
  • By 66th Air Base Group Civil Engineering
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Hanscom's commitment to urban forestry by naming the base a Tree City USA community for the 25th consecutive year.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. It recognizes cities and towns committed to caring for trees.

"We all benefit when communities like Hanscom Air Force Base place a high priority on planting and caring for trees, one of our nation's most beautiful resources," said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "We applaud Hanscom Air Force Base's officials, volunteers, employees and citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest."

To qualify as a tree city, a community must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Thanks to the efforts of Hanscom Civil Engineering, the base has met these standards for the past 25 years.

Base Civil Engineer Tom Schluckebier said, "I'm very proud of this achievement and the fact that Hanscom shares the Air Force record with Offutt Air Force Base (Neb.) for the most consecutive years as a Tree City USA base."

In addition to national recognition, the benefits of tree city status include technical assistance in forestry, a framework for forestry action and education and community pride.

According to a news release from the Arbor Day Foundation, the trees cared for under the program benefit Hanscom by: filtering the air by removing dust and other particles; moderating climate by reducing the heat island effect caused by pavement and buildings; conserving water and energy; and providing a vital habitat for wildlife.

Hanscom is one of about 3,500 communities nationwide to be designated a tree city. This year the base celebrated its achievement and renewed its commitment to forestry by planting two new trees during its Arbor Day observance on April 27.

For more information about the Arbor Day Foundation or the Tree City USA program, visit www.arborday.org.