Arbor Day is traditionally recognized on the last Friday of April. This year is special because it also recognizes the 150th Anniversary of the tree-planting holiday. As a Tree Campus Higher Education, University of Arkansas at Monticello held its Arbor Day recognition last Thursday. Chancellor Dr. Peggy Doss opened the ceremony by describing the history of the first Arbor Day and why University of Arkansas at Monticello participates in the Tree Campus Higher Education program.
Forestry Professor Emeritus Dr. Lynne Thompson educated attendees on selecting a tree planting site and what species might work best with specific geographic locations.
Mr. Harold Fisher with the Arkansas Forestry Division gave an in-depth demonstration of how to plant a tree. Fisher, along with several forestry students from the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, planted an American elm tree, filled in the hole, covered it in mulch, and finished with a good healthy drink of water. Fisher wrapped up his presentation with a discussion of how to care for trees after planting in terms of watering and pruning.
Forest Health associate professor Dr. Mohammad Bataineh then taught attendees about how the American elm they planted is a remarkable achievement because much of the species has been lost to Dutch elm disease. A large research effort in tree breeding led to American elms that are now resistant to the disease.
With the assistance of forestry students, Dr. Thompson proceeded to plant two more trees after the ceremony at the UAM Museum. Thompson said the Pin Oak and Chinkapin Oak saplings and the American elm tree were donated by the Arkansas Forestry Division. The species will be used to help improve the variety of trees used on campus for plant identification classes. Thompson said the university was lacking those species of trees.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is a comprehensive system of postsecondary education in Southeast Arkansas. UAM offers more than 70 distinct academic tracks for students seeking graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs. The Monticello campus offers associate, baccalaureate, and selected master's degrees. The UAM Colleges of Technology in Crossett and McGehee provide classes leading to certificates of proficiency, technical certificates, and associates of applied science degrees.
