Ohio Remains National Leader for Tree City USA Communities for 38th Year

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio continues to be the top state in the country with the most Tree City USA communities, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.

“I am proud that Ohio continues to lead the nation for the 38th consecutive year in the number of Tree City USA communities with 237 participating cities, villages, and townships,” said Governor Mike DeWine.

As part of this nationwide program, Ohioans last year planted more than 24,000 trees, pruned more than 77,000 trees, volunteered more than 42,000 hours in their urban forestry programs and invested a combined total of more than $40 million toward urban forestry efforts.

“Each year, we are impressed with the dedication and commitment of Ohio’s Tree City USA communities in managing their urban forest resource,” said Dan Balser, chief of the Division of Forestry. “Trees provide important economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits that are critical to our state’s sustainability. We are immensely pleased with their accomplishments and honored to play a small part in their continued success.”

Since 1979, the Division of Forestry has assisted communities in enhancing the quality of life within cities and villages through comprehensive urban forestry programs. In 1997, Ohio became the first state to have more than 200 Tree City USA communities.

Tree City USA was designed to encourage better care of the nation’s community forests by awarding recognition to communities that meet four basic standards of a good tree care program: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. A complete list of Ohio’s Tree City USA communities and their anniversaries can be found at arborday.org.

The Tree City USA program, created in 1976, is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities and the National Association of State Foresters.