BUFFALO - Mayor Byron Brown Wednesday announced that the National Arbor Day Foundation has named the City of Buffalo and Re-Tree Western New York as joint recipients of the Foundation’s 2008 Project Award. 

The national honor recognizes outstanding work in tree planting, conservation and environmental stewardship.  The National Arbor Day Foundation identifies communities and organizations that have created successful projects and educational efforts, all of which must reflect the Foundation’s goals of responsible stewardship to benefit mankind.

The Project Award recognizes the work done collaboratively by the City and Re-Tree Western New York in response to the widespread damage to the city’s urban forest caused by the October 2006 Surprise Snow Storm. 

It is estimated that 85 percent of the city’s estimated 65,000 trees (including 12,000 in the Olmsted Parks System) were damaged in the October Surprise Storm.  In the city, approximately 7,400 trees were lost.