This March, three Southern Illinois towns received special recognition for doing their part to help the environment and beautify their neighborhoods.

Carbondale, Du Quoin, and Mount Vernon were all named Tree City USA communities by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Tree City USA is a program designed to provide direction, assistance and recognition for urban and community forestry programs, according to Mark Derowitsch, Public Relations Manager for the National Arbor Day Foundation.

"The citizens can take pride in a community that cares so much about their trees," Derowitsch said.

To become one of the 3,216 "Tree Cities" across the nation, four requirements need to be met. Towns must have a tree board or a tree department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Du Quoin and Mount Vernon were also two of 523 "Tree Cities" to receive the Growth Award, which recognize improvement and encourage higher levels of tree care.

"The communities with the Growth Award go above and beyond the basic standards," Derowitsch said.

Dale Spencer, Du Quoin public works director, said when he thinks of the importance of programs like this, he thinks about his grandkids and the world they will be left with.

"You have to plant trees for oxygen and to take care of the environment," Spencer said.

Carbondale has been named a Tree City USA for 27 years, the third longest running community in Illinois.

"It's a recognition we're proud of," said Greg Kline, forester for the city.

"It's not something you get just by sending in a letter."

Kline pointed out there are many benefits of a good tree care and planting program for a city.

"The aesthetics make it nice for people who want to live in the community and businesses who want to locate there," he said.

"The environment benefits trees provide us by cutting down pollution, recycling carbon dioxide, providing shade and habitat for wildlife; there's just a whole myriad of things that is hard to put a dollar figure on."

brent.stewart@thesouthern.com / 351-5074