For the 12th year in a row, the Arbor Day Foundation has singled out Tulane’s commitment to maintaining its extensive canopy of majestic oaks and other trees by naming it an official Tree Campus USA among higher education institutions. The organization, which has planted more than 350 million trees across the globe, inspires people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees to promote a greener and healthier future for the earth.

Tulane’s historic oaks and expansive greenery are an essential part of the uptown campus, which has more than 400 trees throughout. Live oaks, crape myrtles and bald cypress trees are a few of the species that have been a part of the university since Tulane’s uptown campus was founded in 1884. All are regularly monitored, surveyed and cared for by several partners within the Tulane community including the University Planning Office, Capital Projects and Facilities Services.

“I just can’t imagine the campus without these 100-year-old live oak trees, and some of them are most likely older than that,” said Bill Mizell, Tulane landscape architect. “I think that’s one of the first things that people notice when they come to campus so it’s an honor to be recognized by the Arbor Foundation for the work that we’ve done to make sure that the trees on our campus are properly cared for and thriving.”

To be named a Tree Campus Higher Education Institution, Tulane must meet five core standards annually, including the establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

The Newcomb Oaks lining the Newcomb Quad were planted from acorns taken from the original Newcomb campus more than 100 years ago. The metasequoia tree in front of the School of Architecture can be traced back to seeds collected in China.