For the fifth year in a row, SIU Carbondale has earned national recognition for its tree friendly campus. David Tippy, Superintendent of Grounds say getting the community involved is required to win the designation.
"In the spring we do a volunteer tree-planting, we'll plant you know 10 to 25 trees with the help of anybody that wants to volunteer."
The Arbor Day Foundation sponsors the Tree Campus Higher Education Program, the group's Pete Smith says having green places helps everybody.
"These trees have value to us as humans. They can help keep us healthy, cool in the summertime. There are huge benefits to urban and community forests."
The campus maintains over 53-hundred trees comprised of over 160 different species. To be recognized, the University has to meet five specific, sustainable campus forestry standards.
