DSU Earth Day 2015 – Article and Photo Slideshow

Delaware State University celebrated Earth Day with a program that celebrated the institution’s sustainability initiatives and its continued status as the only certified Tree Campus USA in the state of Delaware.

For images of from the DSU Earth Day program, click on https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/sets/72157651724195990/show.

During the event, DSU President Harry L. Williams welcomed to the campus guest speaker Cecil Rodriques, the director of the Hazardous Cleanup Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Dr. Michael A Valenti, forestry administrator with the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Service, during the April 22 program held in the MLK Jr. Student Center.

Mr. Rodrigues praised the relationship between the EPA and DSU, noting that it is consistent with the agency’s goals to partner with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

“The EPA has worked closely with DSU to support and promote student internships, career development and employment in agricultural and environmental sciences,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “The EPA has also worked to bolster faculty professional development, support the enhancement of the University’s environmental sciences curriculum, and enhance the involvement in sustainable environmental initiatives within the DSU campus community surrounding off-campus communities.

The EPA official added that the agency looks forward to continued collaborations with DSU on various sustainability programs.

Prior to program, Dr. Williams joined other DSU officials, students and guests in planting a new River Birch tree outside of the MLK Student Center, adding yet another tree to DSU Arboretum.

DSU recently received notification that it had once again earned the status of being named a Tree Campus USA. To obtain this distinction, DSU met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus USA, including 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 campus tree collection has been accredited as an arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program since 2013. The ArbNet website gives the following description of the DSU Arboretum:

“The Delaware State University (DSU) Arboretum is on the 400-acre main campus in Dover, the state capital of Delaware, located on the coastal plain of the eastern USA (USDA zone 7). The Arboretum is comprised of the hundreds of planted campus trees, totaling 172 different species of trees and shrubs (114 tree species, 58 shrub species). Each species is labeled; and a map of these trees/shrubs, with lists of scientific and common names with map coordinates, is on the DSU Arboretum brochure. The trees are documented with species descriptions, GPS locations, pressed plant voucher specimens, photographs, and scanned herbarium specimen images.

“The DSU Arboretum tree and shrub collection is diverse, and valuable for teaching, research, and aesthetic purposes. The 68 native species, which represent 40% of the total 172 species, also have ecological importance. The collection includes unique trees, such as a state record shingle oak, the second largest in Delaware; and a large black walnut, which is on the waiting list for state record tree. Recent plantings were selected to further increase the diversity of trees on campus, and for their educational, ecological, and ornamental value. These include Delaware natives such as beach plum, American chestnut, and chinquapin. Some intriguing non-native species are monkey puzzle tree, franklinia, and umbrella-pine. The DSU Arboretum beautifies the campus in all seasons, especially with spring-flowering trees, and fall foliage.”