College Receives Urban Forestry Grant

Jefferson Community College (JCC) has been selected to receive $18,350 to complete a campus tree inventory and create a tree management plan through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Urban and Community Forestry Program. Jefferson is one of two community colleges to receive the Urban Forestry Grant; fifty-four total grants were awarded.

The Urban and Community Forestry Program helps communities develop and implement comprehensive tree planting, management, maintenance, and education to create healthy forests while enhancing quality of life for residents. The program complements DEC’s ongoing initiatives to address invasive species, climate change, environmental degradation, environmental justice, and urban sprawl.

The goal of the project at Jefferson is to provide long term guidance that will foster a safe and beautiful campus for years to come, enhance local greenspaces and align JCC tree management with other area entities. Additionally, it will ensure that JCC urban forest space contributes to the ongoing goal of reducing the overall carbon footprint of the campus.

“A tree inventory and management plan will help us preserve our campus green space for the future,” said Bruce F. Alexander, Director of Administrative Services at JCC. “We have over 1,000 mature trees on campus including native and imported species ranging in age from 50 to 100 years old. JCC campus trees provide an oasis for wildlife and help protect the quality of the Black River by reducing and filtering storm water run-off.”

The Urban Forestry Grant supports the mission of the JCC EverGREEN Committee for sustainability. The committee is comprised of faculty, staff and students who initiate activities, lectures, and programs to create awareness of the importance of conserving and protecting the natural environment. Through efforts of the EverGREEN Committee, Jefferson has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA, first in 2012 and then again in 2017.