North Wildwood – On Wednesday, May 10, North Wildwood Mayor and City Council, in conjunction with the Lomax Consulting Group, visited 4th grade students at Wildwood Catholic Academy and 6th grade students at Margaret Mace School to celebrate Arbor Day and the importance of trees in the community.
Arbor Day is annually celebrated on the 4th Friday of April and is a day to celebrate the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees. To mark this observance, North Wildwood City Council approved a resolution on April 18, 2023 commemorating this holiday, which took place this year on April 28, 2023.
During the presentations, students participated in a hands-on evaluation on how to collect tree health data for specimens located around their respective schools. The students made observations to determine tree species, the roots, trunk and canopy conditions, and any management needs. Some of the tree features that students were taught how to evaluate were trunk diameter, tree height, canopy width, foliage condition, evidence of damage, and the importance of planting the right tree in the right place.
‘Green infrastructure’ (the establishment of trees/vegetation) is a vital component in benefitting the public health with protection of drinking water supplies, mitigating overflows from separate sewer systems, reducing storm-water pollution and CO2 emissions, and cooling densely developed neighborhoods. The planting of more trees can also increase the amount of critical filters for our air and assist in reductions of erosion in unstable areas, as well as increasing soil permeability to facilitate groundwater recharge.
The City of North Wildwood is currently celebrating its sixth year in the Tree City USA community. The City also participates in the state’s Sustainable Jersey program.
“The City of North Wildwood has always been a proponent of healthy living and ecological promotion, and we are happy to partner with Lomax Consulting again this year for our Arbor Day initiatives,” stated Council President Sal Zampirri. “Our adoption of state approved Community Forestry Management and Public Lands Vegetation Management Plans, in addition to our designations by Sustainable Jersey and Tree City USA, solidify and reflect our dedication to providing a healthy and sustainable local ecosystem.
