Plant trees and win a conservation award!

Reap more than beautiful trees from your next planting project by applying for a Missouri Treescape Award. The annual awards, issued by the Missouri Department of Conservation, recognize tree planting projects that significantly enhance Missouri’s urban forests.

Tim Frevert, Missouri Treescape Award coordinator, says the program helps raise awareness of the many benefits trees provide. “We hope that recognizing the aesthetic value of trees encourages people to see them as assets,” says Frevert. “Trees help modify the climate by slowing down winter winds, and they provide shade in the summer. They help to generate oxygen and trap tiny bits of pollutants to clean the air. Trees have great value and are worth planting and maintaining.”

Treescape awards and citations of merit are issued in 12 categories based on the type and size of institution, business or organization competing. Entrants may compete in the commercial and industrial, institutional, state and county government, residential, elementary school, secondary school, volunteer group or municipality categories.

All planting projects must be completed before the award application is submitted. Only projects involving trees that have been planted two growing seasons or less are eligible. Conservation Department officials inspect each project and select winners based on projects’ overall contribution to the community, planning and conception, number of trees planted, size of trees used and quality of planting and aftercare.

All entrants must complete application forms available from Conservation Department regional offices. Applications must include drawings or sketches of the planting project, a list of tree species used and a city, highway or county map marking the project location. Applications should be submitted to: Missouri Treescape Award Coordinator, c/o Forestry Division Administrator, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. The application deadline is Aug. 1.