Staff Photo by Randall Higgins/Chattanooga Times Free Press
With help from Amy Banks, a Cleveland Tree Board member, Tennessee Urban Forester Bruce Webster displays Cleveland’s newest Tree City USA flag. Tennessee’s official Arbor Day ceremony was held in Cleveland Friday.CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Trees are an important resource for energy conservation, the environment and the economy, Tennessee State Forester Steve Scott told those attending the state’s official Arbor Day observance here Friday.
Scott said Cleveland hosted the state celebration because the Cleveland Tree Board was selected by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council as the tree board of the year for 2010.
“Well-managed trees in urban environments can aid economic development, can reduce energy consumption, help with stormwater retention, add value to our properties and make our lives and the places we live so much better,” Scott said.
Gov. Bill Haslam recently signed a proclamation marking March 4 as Arbor Day in Tennessee.
The ceremony was held at the Creek Ridge pavilion on businessman Allan Jones’ estate here. Jones has been an urban forestry advocate for years, supporting the city’s tree-planting efforts.