Burlington--Several Vermont tree champions have been honored by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (VT UCF) for their staunch commitment and dedication to protecting and preserving their community's forests and trees. 

In addition to the prestigious Vermont Arbor Day award, given to an individual who has made a significant difference in his or her community's urban and community forest, VT UCF also bestows a number of tree steward awards each year. Recipients will be recognized at a special ceremony at the Vermont Arbor Day Conference, May 19 in Randolph.

The Vermont Arbor Day Award was awarded posthumously to Gary Salmon of Shrewsbury, who passed away in January. For 36 years, he was a forester with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, serving as district state lands forester and urban and community forester, among other roles. Salmon was the Shrewsbury tree warden and organized volunteers to inventory ash trees to plan for the emerald ash borer. He was a champion of the Vermont Big Tree list and measured many species that remain on the list today. 

Salmon will be remembered as the "Shrewsbury Lorax" and "Vermont's Arbor Day Hero" for his love and appreciation of trees. He led the state's Arbor Day celebration for many years, including creating educational programming for schools and organizing efforts to obtain seedlings for distribution to students.

2023 Tree Steward Award winners:

  • HAMILTON AWARD: Steve Lotspeich, Waterbury. This award goes to a tree warden who has significantly advanced the goals of urban and community forestry through sustainable forestry practices, effective conservation planning, increased citizen engagement and public education. During his 30-year career in Waterbury, in addition to his role as tree warden, Lotspeich has served as the town's community planner and chair and co-chair of the Waterbury Tree Committee. The committee has completed a number of projects including a roadside ash tree inventory and a town tree care ordinance/shade tree preservation plan and secured grants to create an emerald ash borer management plan, remove unhealthy ash trees within the public rights of way and plant trees in public spaces around town. 
  • LEADER AWARD: Peter Hausermann, Richmond. Hausermann has been the groundskeeper at Wake Robin, a continuing care retirement community in Shelburne, since it opened 30 years ago. He manages the development and stewardship of the 136-acre property, making wildlife and forest health his top priority. Hausermann works with Joe Nelson, Wake Robin's consulting forester, on long-range planning to manage the health and sustainability of the forest through selective harvesting and the removal of invasive species. Beginning this year, he has partnered with Nelson and Audubon Vermont to develop habitat for the golden-winged warbler, a songbird that has been in sharp decline.
  • UNSUNG HERO: Little Tree, West Hartford. For the past 12 years, Little Tree has helped steward the health of Vermont's forests, especially in terms of protecting them from invasive insect pests. He became a Forest Pest First Detector in 2011 and has worked tirelessly with the Hartford Tree Board to help prepare Hartford's five villages for the arrival of the emerald ash borer. His efforts have entailed preparing a detailed ash tree inventory and monitoring the purple trap that captured the first confirmed emerald ash borer in Windsor County. He also has shared his knowledge and love of nature by staffing various educational events, among them, the Vermont Flower Show in Essex Junction and Insect Day at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee.
  • VOLUNTEER GROUP AWARD: Old Stone House Museum and Historic Village Buildings and Grounds Committee. This committee, under the leadership of its chairperson Jane Greenwood of Brownington, has worked to ensure the longevity of the tree stock on the 60-acre property, which celebrates Alexander Twilight, a notable African American. The committee partnered with VT UCF to engage in a long-term tree survey to help determine which species should be replanted and at what locations on the property.

VT UCF also acts as the Vermont coordinator for a national awards program for the Arbor Day Foundation. Recipients of these awards are:

  • TREE CITY USA: Burlington, Essex, Essex Junction, Hartford, Middlebury, Montpelier, Rutland, South Burlington, Shelburne, Winooski. Middlebury also received a Growth Award this year, recognizing a community that goes above and beyond for tree care and community engagement during the calendar year.
  • TREE CAMPUS USA: Middlebury College, St. Michael's College
  • TREE LINE USA: Vermont Electric Power Company.

VT UCF is a partnership between UVM Extension and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. To learn more, visit vtcommunityforestry.org.