User:Embee17/sandbox

Elmer the Elm Tree

Elmer the Elm Tree has been the official mascot of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's (MPRB) Forestry Department since 1976. Elmer was created in order to have a vehicle to educate communities and children about Dutch Elm Disease (DED). The MPRB's forestry department has been controlling DED since the late 1970s. Dutch Elm Disease is a fatal fungal disease. It is spread by the elm bark beetle and can spread to nearby trees via root grafts.

Minneapolis has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation since 1979. It cares for over 200,000 boulevard trees on 1,078 miles of streets.

Elmer the Elm Tree is an American elm. Elmer's role is to represent all of the trees planted in Minneapolis; educate kids about the importance and care needed for our urban forest; promote the "Adopt A Tree Program" and encourage the watering of trees during dry conditions; and participate in Arbor Day celebrations, educational programs, parades and park celebrations. The "Elmer Says" campaign has recently (as of spring 2012) been developed and is being used to educate kids, adults, and communities about how they can help take care of the boulevard trees in Minneapolis. Watering trees, especially newly planted boulevard trees, is an important message because of the over 3,100 new trees being planted in north Minneapolis boulevards in the spring of 2012. These trees are being planted due to the May 22, 2011 tornado that downed more than 2,400 trees. Elmer will eventually also promote "Don't Move Firewood", "Keep Trees Mulched", "Bikes Hurt Trees", as well as other pertinent tree care issues. You can learn more about Elmer at his website and Facebook pages.