Urban forestry efforts recognized

Indiana DNR Release:

The Indiana Urban Forest Council, Inc. (IUFC) and the Indiana DNR, Division of Forestry, Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) program recently honored seven individuals and groups for outstanding urban forestry work in 2009.

Those honored are from all over the state and include volunteers, corporations, and non- profit organizations.

Alcoa Foundation was honored as Business of the Year for the Alcoa Foundation/Indiana Tree Planting Partnership. The foundation has awarded $180,000 for urban reforestation in cities and towns, resulting in 2,482 trees being planted throughout the state.

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and La Plaza were honored as Civic Organizations of the Year for the White River Parkway Planting Project, through which their partnership resulted in the church's donation of $10,000 for 100 trees and the combined 50 volunteers from both groups, who worked together to reforest this major gateway to downtown Indianapolis from the west side.

The Government Entity of the Year award went to the Hamilton County Soil Water Conservation District Backyard Conservation program, which has been successful in assisting development and private property owners establish conservation practices throughout the county.

The Project of the Year honor went to Tree Lafayette for the three seasons of the Twyckenham Boulevard Planting program, in which volunteers and the city planted more than 280 trees along a barren roadway.

Urban Forestry Tree Board of the Year went to Crown Point Tree Board for strides made with the tree ordinance that has set landscape standards that focus on urban natural resource issues and needs for public and private lands.

Two individuals were honored. John Hear of Fishers was awarded the plaque for Indiana Community Tree Steward of the Year for his volunteer commitment and support of the Tree Steward program. Chesterton Street tree commissioner John Schnadenberg was honored as Urban Forestry Individual of the Year for his work with and support of the urban forestry program in that community.

“With over 800,000 vacant street tree spaces throughout the state, the work of these individuals, corporations, government entities, and non-profits becomes more crucial every day. Their effort to enhance and restore the environmental health of Indiana communities by their dedication and work to the various aspects of urban forestry is appreciated,” said Pam Louks, state CUF coordinator.

Award nominations were reviewed and determined by the IUFC Awards Committee during the IUFC Annual Conference held Oct. 14 at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful headquarters on Fletcher Avenue. Each recipient was presented a commemorative plaque by Lindsey Purcell, IUFC president.

Municipalities and non-profits are invited to submit awards for outstanding urban forestry work annually. For more information on the IUFC, awards and how to submit a nomination, see http://www.iufc.org.

For information on statewide urban forestry issues contact the CUF office at (317) 591-1170.