January 2017
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:

2017 Urban Forestry Institute – Climbing to the Next Branch of a Managed Urban Forest

The upcoming Urban Forestry Institute will be held on Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17 at Valencia College West Campus located in Orlando, FL. The theme for this annual conference will be “Climbing to the Next Branch of a Managed Urban Forest” and speakers will be covering the following topics: 

• Creating High-Impact Urban Forestry Programs
• Using Tree Inventory or Canopy Analysis Data in the Development of Urban Forest Management Programs
• A Campus Urban Forest Management Plan in Action
• How to Turn a Developing Community into a Managing Community
• Maximizing Coordination with Advocacy Groups and Communicating to the Public
• Tree Protection Ordinance Writing and Enforcement
• Communicating Urban Forestry Issues Across Departments and to Elected Officials
• Many more... 

Registration cost is $160.00 for FUFC members and $185.00 for non-members. Non-member registration cost includes a complimentary FUFC membership. Pre-registration deadline is Thursday, March 9, 2017. To register online, click here.
 
CEU’s are available for FNGLA, LIAF, SAF (TBD), ISA, and FACE.
 
A limited number of rooms have been reserved for Urban Forestry Institute attendees at the DoubleTree by Hilton. To receive the special room rate of $139.00 per night, mention FUFC for the Urban Forestry Institute. Room rates are guaranteed through February 22, 2017 only. Self-parking daily charges are $12.00. The hotel phone number is 407-351-1000.

For a copy of the brochure, click here. We look forward to seeing you in March!

Urban Forestry Events and Updates:

In the News:

Trash 2 Trends – A Recycled Runway Show

Trash 2 Trends is a Keep Orlando Beautiful, Inc. fundraiser that brings the fashion and art of local artists together with the environmental community to promote sustainability in an innovative way. The show features local designers who create runway looks from items headed to the landfill. A complimentary dessert and coffee bar will be provided during intermission for all guests. Must be 18 or older to attend, cocktail attire is recommended, and parking is free.
 
Trash 2 Trends will be on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the SeaWorld’s Ports of Call from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. General Admission is $35.00, Reserved Seats are $65.00, and VIP Tickets are $125.00. For more information, click here.

National Association of State Foresters releases new Tree Fact Sheets

The National Association of State Foresters released free Tree Fact Sheets to help communities and state agencies educate on the importance of our urban canopies. My Tree – Our Forest is an educational campaign by the National Association of State Foresters. It aims to support these critical landscapes by educating the public about the tree benefits and those who protect them. To access the free tree fact sheets, click here.

Database captures urban tree sizes, growth rates across United States

Written By: Paul Meznarich, PSW Research Station Public Affairs
 
City planners and urban foresters now have a resource to more precisely select tree species whose growth will be a landscaping dream instead of a maintenance nightmare.
 
The U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station recently published a technical manual and launched the most extensive database available cataloging urban trees with their projected growth tailored to specific geographic regions.

"Knowing a tree's maximum size can avoid future conflicts between roots and sidewalks or branches and power lines," said Greg McPherson, research forester for the Forest Service and lead author of the technical report and database.
 
The products are a culmination of 14 years of work, analyzing more than 14,000 trees across the United States. Whereas prior growth models typically featured only a few species specific to a given city or region, the newly released database features 171 distinct species across 16 U.S. climate zones. The trees studied also spanned a range of ages with data collected from a consistent set of measurements.
 
In addition to predicted tree growth, the manual provides species-specific data on foliar biomass, or amount of foliage, is critical to projecting uptake of air pollutants. Written in a way to be accessible to non-technical users, the technical report gives step-by-step instructions on how to use the equations to calculate tree dimensions, biomass, carbon storage and other features of interest to urban foresters.
 
"The research and publication were done with the urban forester and city planner in mind," said Natalie van Doorn, a research urban ecologist with the Forest Service and co-author on the study. "Urban trees benefit communities in innumerable ways, and it's this information can help communities make the most of these natural resources."
 
To read more, click here.

Plant Heroes Campaign Educates Youth About Forest Health Threats

Written By: Emily Bazydlo
 
Looking for a fun an innovative way to teach youth to identify plant pests and diseases in their communities?
 
Check out Plant Heroes, an educational campaign by the American Public Gardens Association with support from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Forest Service, offers free downloadable educational materials with fun characters that teach students about invasive species.
  
The campaign utilizes comics that demonstrate how students can be informed on various invasive species and the steps they can take when they think they have an invasive species problem. There are also games on the website and printable workbooks to engage students with "the Plant Heroes," four young adults who share a love of nature and interest in science. Together they form a "super team" to detect and combat bugs and diseases that harm plants and ecosystem health.
 
The education campaign uses characters like Nate Green, a nature loving young adult interested in fungi, to tell stories about the fungus he and his other Plant Hero friends identified on their camping trip. The games and workbooks help to solidify the lessons students will learn from these Plant Heroes. Check out the Plant Heroes website at www.plantheroes.org to learn more and download fun comics for the next generation of conservationists.