Campus as an Urban Forest
Serving as an Urban Forest
UNC Asheville is committed to the care and management of single trees and naturally occurring woodlands. The UNC Asheville Grounds department currently employs three certified arborists trained and tested in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees.
As an urban forest, UNC Asheville’s campus provides the community with environmental, economic and social benefits. Forested parts of campus like Chestnut Ridge and The Big Meadow providing hiking and biking trails, habitat for wildlife, and cleaner air. Additionally, trees on campus intercept stormwater runoff, prevent erosion, and provide shade to minimize urban heat island effects. Thus, campus trees are a critical part of the green infrastructure that makes up the city ecosystem.
Why are Trees Important?
Tree Inventory
The UNC Asheville Grounds Department, with help from student interns, has developed a tree inventory for our campus. The tree inventory notes species, size, year planted, and health condition of existing trees and trees that have died or been removed. The inventory provides essential information for the effective management of campus trees aiding in the prioritization of maintenance needs and future planning.
Tree Campus, USA Certification
The Arbor Day Foundation started the  program to recognize effective management, development, and engagement efforts of universities committed to the health of the trees on their campuses. UNC Asheville received a Tree Campus certification by meeting the 5 standards:
- Create a Campus Tree Advisory Committee
- Develop aÂ
- Fund Campus Tree Programs.
- Observe Arbor Day
- Sponsor a tree-related service learning project
Education and Outreach
Public education and outreach is an important part of establishing community tree advocates. UNC Asheville has hosted a community tree planting, offered guided tree walks, and provided demonstrations on pruning, planting, and tree anatomy.
As a university, trees are integrated into coursework, internships, and independent research projects. One group of students from the Department of Environmental Studies studied the .
Resources for Tree Care:
Contact Us
Customer Service provides the constant connection between the campus community and all departments within Facilities Management. The community can be in contact with Facilities at all times during office hours through this small but dynamic department. In addition to receiving emergency and immediate need calls, Customer Service serves as a conduit of information and communication from facilities to the campus community. Emergency Services are those that need immediate attention, that a wait to repair would cause damage or cause conditions that are unsafe for members of the campus community.
An essential aspect of Customer Service responsibility is the administration of the Facilities Management Work Order System. This system assures an organized method of receiving, scheduling, and completing work required by the campus community. In addition, managers of each division within Facilities Management utilize the work order system to schedule and properly complete all preventative maintenance activities.
Call Customer Service:Ìý(828) 251-6564Â between 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday
All other hours call University Police ²¹³ÙÌý(828) 232-5000 or dial 5000 from any on-campus phone. Campus Police will contact Facilities Management personnel.