CSUSM Receives Arboretum, Tree Campus USA Recognition
Cal State San Marcos has recently received both Level 1 arboretum accreditation and Tree Campus Higher Education recognition.
CSUSM Facility Services in collaboration with Sustainability, faculty, students, IITS and the university's outside landscaping contractor, LandGraphics, came together to create a dynamic walking tour of the arboretum, which is unique in that it encompasses 150 acres across campus. The tour can be found on the Campus App.
“Receiving both the arboretum status and Tree Campus USA is a great opportunity for the campus community to use our grounds as a living laboratory," said Juliana Goodlaw-Morris, CSUSM's director of sustainability and climate justice. "We have already had service-learning students assist in the process and we look forward to more students, staff and faculty engaging with our trees, scanning the QR codes around campus and utilizing the website to learn about our trees, plants and shrubs across campus.”
If you've ever wondered about the names of trees, shrubs and plants on campus, you can find out on the new CSUSM Arboretum website. You'll find detailed information on the variety of trees and plants, including facts such as if they are native to southern California or if they are drought tolerant.
The arboretum mission is to provide opportunities for education and recreation for members of the campus and local communities, which is achieved through five objectives:
- To preserve and care for the existing trees and landscape on campus.
- To promote a resilient and diverse campus tree collection.
- To educate visitors about climate-appropriate and drought-tolerant tree species, indigenous trees, general tree care and maintenance, and the benefits provided by trees.
- To provide outdoor education and research opportunities for members of the CSUSM community.
- To foster community involvement with organizations or individuals outside of the CSUSM campus through events, donations, volunteer opportunities, or other activities.
An arboretum plan has been prepared to further Facilities Development & Management’s goals of maintaining and enhancing the quality learning environment of CSUSM through sustainable development and growth.
The Tree Campus USA designation is awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation and works in conjunction with the Level 1 arboretum certification.
Universities must meet five overarching standards to earn Tree Campus Higher Education recognition:
- Establishment of a campus tree advisory committee.
- Evidence of a campus tree care plan.
- Verification of the plan’s dedicated annual expenditures.
- Observing Arbor Day.
- Creating a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.
CSUSM takes pride in its tree canopy and continues to plant new trees, including fruit trees, across the campus landscape. To learn more, please contact sustainability@csusm.edu.
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