THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, BEYER, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HOUGHTON, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, McCALL, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLARD, PETRI, QUINN, SAINATO, SEIP, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, VULAKOVICH AND SANTONI, APRIL 20, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 20, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing Newtown Borough as a "Tree City" and urging all

municipalities in this Commonwealth to participate in the

Tree City USA and TreeVitalize programs.

WHEREAS, Newtown Borough will have an Arbor Day celebration

on April 22, 2009, and receive a proclamation recognizing the

borough's 25 years of commitment to trees and status as a "Tree

City"; and

WHEREAS, Newtown Borough is one of 102 certified Tree City

USA communities in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The Tree City USA program encourages, supports and

strengthens urban and community forestry programs in diverse

communities nationwide through recognition, education and

publicity; and

WHEREAS, The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor

Day Foundation in cooperation with the United States Department

of Agriculture's Forest Service and the National Association of

State Foresters; and

WHEREAS, From the humble beginnings of the Tree City USA

program more than 30 years ago, it has grown to be the leading

community forestry recognition program in the United States,

with nearly 3,200 designated Tree City USA communities across

this nation; and

WHEREAS, Tree City USA is thriving in this Commonwealth

because of the strong partnership between the Arbor Day

Foundation and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry; and

WHEREAS, TreeVitalize is a public-private partnership in this

Commonwealth that helps to restore tree cover, educate citizens

about planting trees as an act of caring for the environment and

builds capacity among local governments to understand, protect

and restore urban trees; and

WHEREAS, TreeVitalize was established in 2004 in southeastern

Pennsylvania, expanded to the southwestern Pennsylvania region

in spring 2008 and further expanded to the Lehigh Valley,

Lancaster and Erie areas in fall 2008; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2009, TreeVitalize hopes to be

operating in each of this Commonwealth's 14 metropolitan areas;

and

WHEREAS, TreeVitalize Metros is a partnership of the

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania

Community Forests, Penn State Extension Urban Foresters,

Pennsylvania Horticulture Society and local governments; and

WHEREAS, Over the next five years, TreeVitalize Metros plans

to plant one million trees throughout this Commonwealth, train

10,000 community volunteers to help plant and provide early care

of trees and build community capacity for the long-term

management of urban forests; and

WHEREAS, Trees are an important part of this Commonwealth's

landscape and history, providing a wealth of benefits to the

residents and visitors of the State; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 60% of Pennsylvania's 28 million acres are

forested; and

WHEREAS, The dedication of this Commonwealth's urban and

community foresters, municipal officials and residents to

planting and caring for trees in their cities and towns helps to

increase energy savings, clean the air, increase property

values, control storm water and beautify the State; therefore be

it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize Newtown

Borough as a "Tree City"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all

municipalities in this Commonwealth to participate in the Tree

City USA and TreeVitalize programs.