University of Findlay Tree Care Committee Celebrates 10 Years of Stewardship

The University of Findlay’s Tree Care Committee is celebrating 10 years of dedicated service to campus and its community. While much of the committee’s work is done behind the scenes, its efforts play a major role in supporting the overall beauty and appeal of Findlay’s charming campus.

Consisting of faculty, students, staff, and a community member, the mission of UF’s Tree Care Committee remains the same as it was when it began a decade ago: to provide excellent stewardship of all trees on campus.

Trees Are More Than Just Aesthetics 

The benefits of an urban forest on campus goes far beyond aesthetics. Trees filter carbon dioxide, provide shade that cools walking paths, help absorb stormwater to reduce runoff and flooding, and create inviting spaces where students gather, study, and relax, among other advantages. Given all these factors, Ben Dolan, professor of biology who started UF’s Tree Care Committee, noted there is science-based thinking behind every decision he and the committee make. Each tree that is planted, maintained, or removed is carefully planned and evaluated. In fact, the committee works closely with the University’s facilities services and groundskeeping department to ensure multiple perspectives are considered before taking action.

“We have to be really careful about what we plant and where we plant it. I’ve studied urban forestry, so I’ve relied on that expertise to make decisions for the [campus] forest as a whole and always thinking how to manage risks,” Dolan explained.

Managing Trees with Careful Consideration

While most trees on campus can be managed without being removed, certain situations warrant removal. This may include a tree growing too close to a campus building where it could cause damage or a tree beyond repair due to disease. The health and safety of campus and its community come first, Dolan emphasized.

“Every tree we recommend taking down is intentional and almost always has a risk associated to it,” Dolan said. “We try to maintain as many trees as possible because somebody made the decision to plant that tree there and that specific tree a long time ago, so we try to honor that,” he added.

Tree management has become the committee’s primary focus as campus approaches its capacity for trees. This can include anything from pruning limbs to the outright extraction of a tree, as noted earlier. A couple of recent projects on campus illustrate both approaches. First, several honey locust trees in front of Old Main were pruned for better visibility and to proactively protect the building from any harm. Second, a few ash and crabapple trees were removed between the Egner building and the AMU due to their declining health.

In most cases of removal, new trees will be planted in place of those taken out to keep the forest’s footprint the same. With little room to expand the campus tree canopy, the committee’s sights are fixed on the University’s existing trees.

“On the main part of campus, we don’t have a lot of space for planting more trees – it’s pretty full. We’re shifting to how do we better manage the trees that we have and replace them and care for those new trees that grow structurally well for a long time,” Dolan explained.

Tracking and Caring for Campus Trees in the Future

Inventory has also become a priority as the campus urban forest continues to mature. A recent project in Dolan’s botany class had students conduct the University’s first campus-wide tree inventory since 2016. The project provided students with hands-on experience identifying species and assessing tree health while creating an updated resource to help guide the committee’s future management decisions. A preliminary report on the inventory was started this spring and will be completed in the fall.

The Arboretum Fund, established around the same time as the Tree Care Committee, helps purchase and maintain campus trees, supporting the group’s long-term efforts. While originally envisioned as a step toward one day designating campus as an arboretum, the fund today provides resources for ongoing tree care and annual Arbor Day plantings—the main exception to installing new trees. Students, employees, alumni, and community members who wish to support the University’s urban forest can contribute to the Arboretum Fund by contacting UF’s Advancement Office and designating their gift for campus trees. For more information about the fund or the University’s tree initiatives, interested donors can also contact Dolan directly at dolan@findlay.edu.

Reflecting on the Tree Care Committee’s 10th anniversary, Dolan said he is most proud of the dedication displayed by its members and their care and concern for such an integral part of the University’s and community’s landscape.

“I’m most proud of having a group of people that cares enough to come to the committee meetings to talk about trees. We are not a committee that reports to Faculty Senate or the [University] president, we are a group of people that are interested in a common cause. I feel that our meetings are open and welcoming enough where people have a voice and for them to keep coming is worth their while,” Dolan said.