Burlington--The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (VT UCF) recently announced the recipients of the 2024 Vermont Tree Steward awards, given to deserving individuals and community groups for their ongoing commitment and dedication to protecting and preserving their community's forests and trees.

VT UCF staff also selected a recipient of the Vermont Arbor Day award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant difference in his or her community's urban and community forest. The recipients will be honored at a special ceremony at the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Conference on May 23 in Randolph.

This year’s recipients are:

• ARBOR DAY: Neil Silins, Brandon. In his appointed role as town tree warden, Silins has fostered community engagement to help ensure the health and vitality of his town's urban and community forests. He engages with residents to raise awareness about the importance of trees in urban environments, promoting initiatives such as tree planting programs and educational workshops. Additionally, he collaborates with local authorities and community groups to develop and implement tree preservation strategies and initiatives. He conducts regular inspections of trees within the town, assessing their health, identifying potential hazards and recommending appropriate actions, such as pruning, removal or replanting. Silins also works with local organizations to beautify public parks, streetscapes and recreational areas through tree planting and landscaping projects.
• HAMILTON AWARD: Kris Dulmer, Milton. This award recognizes a tree warden who has significantly advanced the goals of urban and community forestry through successful forestry practices, effective conservation planning, increased citizen engagement and active public education. Dulmer has identified the best sites for his town to target for emerald ash borer management. He has helped create sustainable trails in Bombardier Park to ensure the preservation of rare and old trees while facilitating the safe development of recreational trails and collaborated with the Milton Recreation Department on various initiatives, including a tree identification walk for the Winter Festival. He is the co-creator and helps maintain the Fruit Tree Grove, an educational hub for sustainable agriculture, nutrition and food access. He also has added more than 10 trees to the current list of Vermont’s Big Tree Champions.
• LEADER: Caitlin Littlefield, Richmond. To prepare for the arrival of emerald ash borer, Littlefield spearheaded a comprehensive effort to inventory ash trees, shared resources to educate homeowners and secured grant funding to hire certified arborists for ash tree treatment and removal. She also worked with a local nonprofit, Wood for Good, to ensure that the removed ash tree logs were used as heating fuel for local resource-constrained families. While serving on the Richmond Town Forest committee, Littlefield championed sustainable forest management practices, including working with ecological consulting and trail design firms on ecologically sensitive trail planning. In addition, she consistently volunteers her time to support tree-planting events and invasive species removals to provide equitable access to community forests.
• UNSUNG HERO: Tim Stout, Shrewsbury. Stout has been the driving force behind numerous initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable land management practices and fostering a deeper understanding of environmental conservation principles. In addition to hosting an introduction to carbon sequestration for the town of Shrewsbury, he has led numerous walks, lectures and educational sessions for the public in partnership with the Shrewsbury Conservation Commission and other organizations on a range of topics, including carbon sequestration and invasive plant management. He serves as a role model for landowners throughout the state through his forest management, wildlife habitat conservation, climate change mitigation and other sustainable practices employed on his own property.
• VOLUNTEER GROUP: Spaulding High School Interact Club, Barre. The club, a high school branch of the Rotary Club, was recognized for its innovative and impactful efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainability within the community. For the past three years, it has hosted the Tree-Plenish Program, part of a nationwide non-profit organization that empowers students to create more sustainable schools by replenishing the environment with the resources they use each year. Interact Club students have set a goal of planting 1,000 trees to offset one year of emissions from Spaulding High School. This initiative showcases their commitment to environmental stewardship and their determination to take meaningful action against climate change.

VT UCF also serves as the state coordinator for the Arbor Day Foundation’s national awards program. which will be celebrated at the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Conference.

These awards, which will be celebrated at the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Conference, include:

• TREE CITY USA: Burlington, Essex Junction, Hartford, Middlebury, Montpelier, Rutland, South Burlington, Shelburne, Winooski.
• TREE CAMPUS USA: Middlebury College, St. Michael's College
• TREE LINE USA: Vermont Electric Power Company.

VT UCF is a partnership between University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. For more information, go to www.vtcommunityforestry.org.