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In A Nutshell - Florida Urban Forestry Council

An important eNews message to friends and members
of the Florida Urban Forestry Council

May 2016

Welcome to FUFC’s In A Nutshell. This eNews bulletin is designed to keep you in the loop about your Florida Urban Forestry Council’s events, activities and news. It is also designed to provide you with detailed information on urban forestry events and activities throughout the state. This monthly electronic communication will be sent to your E-mail inbox. To stay informed and get involved, simply open up your E-mail and start reading!

 

 

FUFC Events and Activities:

UFI Logo
Thank You for attending and supporting the 2016 Urban Forestry Institute

The Council would like to thank all those who attended the 2016 Urban Forestry Institute in March. Our speakers did an outstanding job of covering topics ranging from forest and biological diversity to insect and disease, to climate change effects on the urban forest. We want to express our gratitude to the UFI Planning Committee and Gene Dempsey, UFI Chairperson, who spent countless hours developing the program.
 
A special thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors for their strong support of the Urban Forestry Institute. We appreciate your commitment to the future of our state’s urban forest. 

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The Florida Urban Forestry Council Celebrates 25 Years – Silver Anniversary

FUFC

On April 10, 2016, The Florida Urban Forestry Council celebrated 25 years of promoting the value, enhancement, and sound management of urban forests through leadership and education. We would like to thank all of our members, Executive Committee members, organization partners, and sponsors, both past and present. It is your support and time that has grown this organization into what it is today. Without your passion these past 25 years would not have been possible. We thank you and look forward to the opportunities that will exist in the next 25 years!

 

Southern Group of State Foresters – Urban Forestry Institute
USF Patel Center in Tampa

Tuesday, May 24, Wednesday, May 25 and/or Thursday, May 26

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Each day will address a specific aspect of urban forest management and the tools used to confront the issues.  Tuesday's session will be focusing on Tree Inventories.  Wednesday's session will cover Urban Tree Canopy Assessments.  Thursday's session will be addressing the role of urban forest systems as a Green Stormwater Infrastructure practice and is targeted towards Stormwater Engineers, Designers, Managers. Planners, Urban Foresters, and Natural Resource Managers. Register for all three days or just those dates that interest you! PDH hours and ISA CEU's offered.

Registration Cost:

1 Day = $75.00
2 Days = $150.00
3 Days = $225.00

**Pre-registration required no later than TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016**

PDH Approved = 6.5 hours

ISA CEU's Approved = 7.0 hours / Tuesday; 7.0 hours / Wednesday; 6.5 hours / Thursday
(Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, BCMA - Management, TW Climber Specialist)

 
For further information or to register, please go to:

http://fufc.org/sgsf_ufi_registration.php
  

Upcoming Regional Workshop – Landscape Inpectors Association of Florida
July 29 at Cherry Lake Tree Farm in Groveland

Become a certified Landscape Inspector

Certification as a Landscape Inspector demonstrates a commitment to professional development and is proof of knowledge and professional training. To become a Certified Landscape Inspector, applicants must meet eligibility criteria and pass a rigorous written exam. This workshop is designed to assist applicants who are eligible to take the exam and it includes: study manual, review of exam material (July 29), and a proctored exam (August 12). Pre-registration required no later than July 19, 2016.    Mark your calendar and save the date! 

 

Urban Forestry Events and Updates:

In the News:

 

FFS Partners with Arbor Day Foundation and FUFC to Provide First Ever Statewide Energy Saving Trees Program

Dahoon holly

Trees tagged for shipment for the Energy Saving Trees Program.

Trees are one of the most effective ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The Florida Forest Service, the Arbor Day Foundation and the Florida Urban Forestry Council have partnered to help utility company customers throughout the State of Florida take advantage of this exciting program by providing trees to lower greenhouse gases (GHG’s) emissions and homeowner energy costs.

Energy-Saving Trees Program is designed to:

  • Promote energy efficiency
  • Advance the notion that trees are a viable option for energy reduction
  • Educate the public on the value of trees 
  • Identify levels of interest and generate support
  • Provide jobs for Florida nursery growers
  • Help reduce carbon emissions from power plants

The program was kicked off on Florida Arbor Day, Friday January 15, 2016.  At that time 10,000 trees were made available statewide. All single-family residential homeowners were eligible and encouraged to participate. The goal of the state-wide plan is to provide environmentally-friendly energy efficiency for big and small communities while helping urban forestry programs to plant, protect and improve urban forests for the future.

The Florida Forest Service selected an appropriate species palate based on the states’ climatic zones. Citizens reserved one tree per household that were delivered to their door. The program ran for 60 days until March 18, 2016 when all 10,000 the trees were reserved.

Florida Map

Number of trees ordered by destination for the Energy Saving Trees Program.

To ensure success with creating shade to save energy, the program’s web-based tool developed by Davey Tree Institute, instructed customers on how to determine the best planting location around the home.  A dedicated call center was set up to answer customer questions about the program.  Once the customer plants the trees, it is then up to the participant to maintain the tree for best results in reducing energy consumption.

The 20-year total estimated cumulative electric savings for Florida consumers is $1,781,000, and the total savings in energy and community benefits is $3,718,000.

The trees already reserved are estimated to produce within 20 years:

  • Over $1 million in customer savings
  • 15 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in energy savings
  • Mitigate over 305 million gallons of stormwater runoff
  • Sequester 50 million pounds of carbon
  • Remove 131,000 lbs. of air pollutants

We would like to thank the U.S. Forest Service for funding, the Arbor Day Foundation, the Davey Institute and Florida’s utility companies for their partnership as we enhance our urban and community forestry program to provide the best possible service for Florida’s citizens.

Looking ahead, The Florida Forest Service, the Arbor Day Foundation and the Florida Urban Forestry Council are already preparing for the 2017-18 give-away seasons of Energy-Saving Trees, Florida. And, we wish to introduce and welcome the Georgia Forestry Commission for joining the effort in 2017.

 

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Florida Forest ServiceNatural Resource Planning Services, Inc.Seco EnergyNelson Tree ServiceOUCOUCUFOISA Logo

Copyright © 2016 Florida Urban Forestry Council, All rights reserved.