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The Arbor Day Foundation honored the City of Selma this week.

Selma was named a 2021 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment for effective urban forest management.  Arbor Day 2022 is Friday, April 29.

The recognition for Selma came meeting the program’s four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree-care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“Selma has a long tradition of participating in tree planting with Arbor Day Foundation,” Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. said. “Tree City USA is a cornerstone initiative that the City of Selma remains proud of and proud of being a participant. One of our goals for this year is to restore the Tree Commission within Selma. I am looking for volunteers.”

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

“Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” Arbor Day Foundation President Dan Lambe said.

“The trees being planted and cared for by Selma ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for.”

The Arbor Day Foundation will celebrate its 50th anniversary of inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees this year. The national holiday also will celebrate 150 years of planting trees.

The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 and over the last six decades grew o become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Over one million supporters and valued partners dedicated to planting trees.

Since 1972, over 400 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests across the world.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s vision is to: “help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.”

The Arbor Day Foundation, through, its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe.