Robins earns Tree City USA designation, growth award Published March 12, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Robins is the winner of Tree City USA and Tree City USA Growth awards. The awards are presented by the Arbor Day Foundation in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Service and the Georgia Forestry Commission. The Tree City USA designation, which Robins has earned every year since 1994, is achieved by having an established tree board, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance. Winning the growth award takes a higher level of care, said Bob Sargent, natural resources manager. The installation won the award - its fifth - for implementing a tree-planting plan, re-establishing a tree farm, and planting over 900 trees. "It's not something we've been able to win every year," said Sargent. "It requires going the extra mile." Only 19 cities in Georgia won the growth award this year. The Georgia Forestry Commission will present the awards April 22 during the state's annual Historic Forest Ceremony here. Robins has planted 106 trees in two historic wooded areas on the installation. The trees are saplings from trees on the properties of historic figures.