Mission Statement:
To preserve and protect the historic trees of Rutherford, through advocacy, education and public awareness, and to maintain and enhance the forest cover of our Borough of Trees.
Over the last one hundred and fifty years the residents of our Borough planted and nurtured a remarkably large and diverse forest, which is now in our care. This forest cover forms a fragile green oasis in an increasingly urbanized landscape and is the reason that Rutherford is known as The Borough of Trees.
Our trees are a major contributor to the beauty and quality of life in Rutherford, providing inestimable benefits to its residents. These benefits include beauty, shade, flood control, air pollution control, haven for wildlife, and increased property values.
The Rutherford Shade Tree Committee is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing this invaluable forest asset through proper care, protection, replanting, and educational programs, preserving for all the wonderful benefits that flow from our trees.
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Description:
The RSTC was reformed in 2007, as part of Rutherford’s Community Forestry Management Plan, in accordance with the Borough Master Plan. Members of the Committee are volunteers, appointed yearly by the Mayor and Council. Meetings are open to the public and are generally held at 7:00 pm on the second Thursday of each month upstairs in Borough Hall.
The Rutherford Community Forest Management Plan can be viewed on the Borough's main page: www.rutherford-nj.com.
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The Committee's projects and goals include:
- Improving the health & safety of our forest resources, through planting of proper tree species, prioritized pruning, and hazard tree program
- Creating a comprehensive GPS Tree Inventory and Database, with cooperation of NJ Meadowlands Commission Environmental Research Institute
- Maintaining the Borough Tree Nursery and active tree replacement program
- Training members in Urban Forestry Care to maintain certification
- Maintaining the designation of "Tree City USA" for the Borough, which allows access to grants for tree maintenance and replanting
- Creating an educational Borough Arboretum of native tree species
- Involving residents in annual Arbor Day celebration with tree plantings and art contest
- Adopt-A-Tree sponsoring programs for citizens or businesses in honor of named person
- Resident tree planting programs to aid in revitalizing and expanding the tree population
- Promoting tree awareness and stewardship among residents through educational materials
Residents are invited to send in ideas, comments, pictures, and stories about the historic trees of Rutherford by email to RutherfordTrees@aol.com for inclusion on this website.
2010 Members:
Steve Savitsky
Richard Roberts
John Tagliabue
Mike Schmeding
Sharon Del Vecchio
John Hughes
Richard Roberts
Chris Seidler
David Phillips
Tim Stanton
Mayor John Hipp
Joe DeSalvo, Liaison to Council
"The loss or decline of trees is not accomplished overnight. It is usually a more lengthy process, one that is sometimes not realized before an irreparable loss is sustained."
– Rutherford Shade Tree Commission, 1936
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