Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Receives 2016 Arbor Day Award

By Danny Cohn
The Arbor Day Foundation honored the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum at the 2016 Arbor Day Awards in April, with the 2016 Excellence in Partnership Award. The Excellence in Partnership Award is presented for the innovative, strategic and/or pioneering collaborative efforts of organizations to advance forestry efforts on a local, state, national or international level.
The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is part of an urban renewal project organized by the Atlanta community. It is amongst one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban development programs underway in the United States, connecting 45 neighborhoods together through trails and green space. The Atlanta BeltLine project is a collaborative effort between multiple governments, non-profit, private and philanthropic partners including Atlanta BeltLine Inc., the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and the City of Atlanta.
The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is one of 17 individuals, organizations and companies recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation at the annual Arbor Day Awards ceremony held at Lied Lodge & Conference Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the inspiring and life-changing work of leading environmental stewards and tree planters through the Annual Arbor Day Awards. Former award winners include the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and the United States Forest Service.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. During the last 44 years, more than 250 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world.