PPCS committed to forestry in its community

ELLSWORTH – Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) was named a 2022 Tree Line USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to recognize its dedication to proper forest management in the provider›s service area. PPCS has received this designation for 17 years in a row.

PPCS achieved the Tree Line USA recognition by meeting five program standards: Quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education, a formal treebased energy conservation, and a sponsorship of or participa – tion in an Arbor Day celebration. PPCS is celebrating Arbor Day 2022 by providing all fourth graders in Pierce and Pepin counties with white pine seedlings and educational materials on proper tree planting. Five PPCS members also won a $200 gift cer – tificate to Reuver's Nursery for the purchase of trees in the Grow Democratic Member Control prize drawing.

Tree Line USA, a partnership between the Arbor Day Foun –

dation and the National Association of State Foresters, rec –

ognizes public and private utilities for pursuing best practic –

es that protect and cultivate America's urban tree can – opy. In addition, Tree Line USA promotes deliver –

ing safe and reliable elec – tricity while maintaining healthy community forests. "Trees are essential to cre ating more green spaces in communities across the United States," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

"In addition, they provide important benefits to resi – dents, including clean air, clean water, and vital tree shade. Service providers like Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services demonstrate how easily trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and residents." By joining the Tree Line USA program, service pro – viders benefit from lowering line clearance costs due to proper pruning. As a result of those properly pruned and maintained trees, the people benefit from increased re – liability of service because those trees will have healthy root systems that decay less, have less structural weakness, and ultimately result in fewer downed lines during storms. More information about Tree Line USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeLineUSA.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organiza –

tion dedicated to planting trees, with more than one mil – lion members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

More information is available at arborday.org.

Submitted by Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services

PPCS employees Heidi Shepler, Brad Ristow, Charity Lubich and David Chavie display the Tree Line USA plaque and the seedling packages provided to fourth graders in Pierce and Pepin counties. Photo courtesy of PPCS