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Trees in Communities
Tree Line USA
We’re proud to recognize and empower utility providers to care for the trees in the communities they serve.
Show communities you care
We believe the power grid and the urban forest can co-exist, and we’re happy to recognize thoughtful, community-minded utility providers who believe the same.
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Line USA program helps forward-looking utility providers to be seen as community partners, by outlining best practices in public and private utility arboriculture.
Five Core Standards
Care
Protecting Trees Together
Our work begins and ends with understanding everyone’s impact on trees. Tree Line USA partners demonstrate compliance to industry standards for pruning, planting, removals, trenching, and tunneling near trees. We also help encourage quality assurance related to:
- Utility pruning
- Integrated vegetation management
- Underground utility construction
Empowering Your Employees
Tree Line USA partners conduct and document best practice training at least once a year. These trainings help educate employees, contract workers, and supervisors who perform or oversee right-of-way vegetation maintenance.
Connecting With Your Community
Guiding your customers on the proper placement and pruning of trees is a critical part of our program. Our partners coordinate dedicated educational programs and communications for the public and paying customers, allocating an annual expenditure of at least 10 cents per customer to education.
A Plan to Protect
Walking the walk with a formal tree-based energy conservation program is a key component of Tree Line USA. Conservation programs include customer education, local retailer partnerships, and tree planting on private property. Our partners show customers how trees can power an energy-efficient landscape.
Honoring Arbor Day
Every year, communities around the world celebrate Arbor Day with tree plantings, festivals, and other events. Our Tree Line USA partners sponsor and participate in their community’s celebrations.
Benefits
The Tree Line USA Impact
When you prioritize your community’s trees, you demonstrate that you’re a leader. Here are some of the biggest benefits to becoming a Tree Line USA partner.
Your impact
Tree Line USA partners amplify the community forestry work already being done by local governments, community organizations, nonprofits, and other stakeholders.
Your customers
Keep your customers happy, loyal, and connected. Caring for trees improves their quality of life and decreases service disruptions due to tree-related issues.
Your commitment
Show your community what you’re made of. Tree Line USA partners enhance their public image by demonstrating a real commitment to the environment and their community.
Your brand
Tree Line USA recognition and marketing materials help you easily tout your environmental commitment to the audiences that matter most to you.
Your costs
It’s more cost-effective to manage trees proactively than to react to issues later. Following Tree Line USA standards can lower your long-term operational costs.
Your operations
Good news for your neighborhoods, and your bottom line: well-planned and maintained trees help reduce outages and emergency repairs.
The network effect
Trees & Utilities
Conservation is a collaboration. At our annual Trees & Utilities conference, we bring professionals together for camaraderie, education, and sharing best practices. Join us to connect and learn new ways to put your program on a path to success.
The Tree Line USA Network
Joining these leading utility providers across the nation in prioritizing trees in the community.
Testimonials
Be part of the community
See the network you'll join as a recognized utility, including other members, and access Tree Line USA marketing materials here.
Ready to apply?
Become a Tree Line USA
It’s easy to get started – apply today to become part of the Tree Line USA network.
Tree Line USA is an Arbor Day Foundation Program in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the Utility Arborist Association.
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Stay Informed
Our Community Forestry Connection newsletter keeps you up to date on programs, best practices, and opportunities for conservation leadership.
