Maitland is proud to celebrate its 12th year as part of the national Tree City USA program.
The city is among more than 3,600 Tree City USA communities, with a combined population of 155 million people. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
"Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees being planted and cared for by Maitland ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for."
Shade from urban tree plantings help to reduce energy consumption by up to 25 percent. Properly placed trees increase property values from 7 to 20 percent. Trees also positively affect the local ecosystem by helping to clean water and create animal habitats to encourage biodiversity.