California Governor Jerry Brown Receives 2015 Arbor Day Award

Nebraska City, Neb. (April 1, 2015) – California Governor Jerry Brown is the recipient of a 2015 Arbor Day Award in honor of his outstanding contribution to tree planting, conservation and stewardship, the Arbor Day Foundation announced today.

Governor Jerry Brown is one of 13 individuals, organizations and companies being recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation during the annual Arbor Day Awards. This year's ceremony will be held at Lied Lodge & Conference Center, located at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska, on Saturday, April 25.

Governor Brown will receive the Champion of Trees Public Service Award.

Governor Brown has played a key role in establishing community forestry in California. During his first term, The Urban Forestry Act of 1978 created an urban forestry program through state law.

Since again becoming Governor in 2011, Brown has continued his legacy leading to historic funding levels for California's Urban and Community Forestry Program. Brown signed a state budget on June 20, 2014 containing 17.8 million dollars for urban and community forestry – the largest one-year, single-state allocation for urban forestry in the entire history of the United States.

Arbor Day Award winners from previous years include the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the United States Forest Service, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

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