by Rik De Vreese | Jul 10, 2017 | Articles
Numbers of common British butterflies have fallen by 69% in cities and towns over the past two decades. Photograph: Cath Scott.
Clive Davies, chair of the EFUF International Steering Committee, comments on this article: Flutter bye: where did all the city butterflies go?
Having come to urban forestry and green infrastructure via the urban nature route I was very interested in this article. I think it is very important that those of us with any influence in these circles stress the importance of non-woody natural areas in urban forestry/GI planning and delivery. This means (i) stressing the importance of edge habitats, (ii) and glades and clearings, (iii) advocating sensitive management, (iv) avoiding the use of pesticides unless it is extremely justifiable and (v) intervening to ensure there is a diverse community of invertebrate friendly plants. The joy of urban forestry and urban GI is that we are also less fixated by species correctness – which is good news for butterflies.
Butterflies are vanishing from cities even faster than in the countryside – from paving, pesticides or just plain heat. But some cities are luring them back
Source: Flutter bye: where did all the city butterflies go? | Cities | The Guardian
by Rik De Vreese | Jun 20, 2017 | Events
The National Tree Officers Conference is a unique gathering for professionals interested in all areas of local authority arboricultural work. This conference is crucial to tree, woodland and planning officers; provides a significant platform for future collaborations and partnerships; and offers latest research. It will demonstrate the best practice and innovation from arboricultural and urban forestry experts.
This year’s conference will focus on a range of influential topics from leading arboricultural and urban forestry professionals:
- Planning Best Practice & Innovation
- In-House or Out-Sourced
- Innovation and Research
- i-Tree Projects
This event is being organised by the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA), the Municipal Tree Officers Association (MTOA) and, the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).
More information and registration: http://www.charteredforesters.org/event/tree-officers-conference-2017/
Last year’s delegates demonstrate, in the below quotes, the benefits and value of attending the only UK nationally dedicated Tree Officers conference.
“The National Tree Officers Conference was a fantastic event. It was brilliant to hear how much great work is being done by tree officers all over the country and to have the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with colleagues. I’m looking forward to the next one.” John Parker, Transport for London & Chair of the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA)
“A comprehensive day that linked many of the burning issues tree officers deal with daily. Excellent value!” Jim Smith MICFor, National Urban Forestry Advisor, Forestry Commission England
“A fully interactive and engaging day, excellent turn out and thought provoking day. “Matt Seabrook, Chair, Municipal Tree Officer’s Association (MTOA)
“It was a great atmosphere at the conference, bringing together Tree officers from across the country to discuss best practice in arboriculture.” Al Smith MICFor, Arboricultural Manager, London Borough of Camden
“Great to hear Tree Officers sharing innovative approaches and ideas, and responding to the challenges they face.” Craig Harrison FICFor, London Manager, Forestry Commission
“The National Tree Officer Conference 2016 promoted idea exchange and an unparalleled opportunity for tree, woodland and planning officers to showcase their excellent work, managing local authority trees and woodlands for the benefits of the communities they serve. A key part of the event is having the ability to talk and share experiences with your peers.” Andy Lederer, Development Director, Institute of Chartered Foresters
by Rik De Vreese | Jun 19, 2017 | Events
The GREEN SURGE project invites you to an online conversation with two leading researchers in the field of urban green infrastructure, Prof. Dr. Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch and Prof. Dr. Stephan Pauleit who will share observations on the current academic discourse on green infrastructure in Northern America and Europe.
The webinar is the first of a series of GREEN SURGE webinars reflecting on cities’ and researchers’ views on urban green infrastructure. The theme and the webinars will be leading up to the GREEN SURGE final conference in September.
More information and registration
by Rik De Vreese | Jun 14, 2017 | EFUF2017
The EFUF awards panel is delighted to announce that the award of Young European Urban Forester of the Year Award 2017 has gone to John Parker who works for Transport for London as Senior Technical Specialist – Arboriculture & Landscape, and who is chair of the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA).
The award committee were very impressed by John’s commitment to bring together those involved with management of individual trees with those engaged in land use based urban forestry, governance and planning as well as his skills and activity in promoting urban forestry. The awards panel were faced with a significant task given the high standard and number of applications received in 2017.
The award is now in its fifth year and is supported by Green Infrastructure and Urban Forestry Consultancy, MD² Consulting Ltd and the scientific journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
Background information on the Young Urban Forester Award can be found on this page.
by Rik De Vreese | Jun 4, 2017 | EFUF2017
While some of the EFUF delegates are still enjoing Barcelona, I arrived home this morning after a 16 hour stressless train trip to Brussels (shared with a Swiss delegate up to Paris). The Forum has always been a special event for me, and arriving home is always connected with mixed feelings. Being happy to be at home again, feeling re-energised and full of new ideas, being thankfull for seeing old friends and making new contacts, but feeling a bit lonely without the EFUF family around myself.
The 20th European Forum on Urban Forestry was not only special as it was a jubilee edition, but also for being organised in such a wonderfull city. I didn’t expect Barcelona to be so leafy and was very surprised by vastness and quality of the Collserola park.
We were hosted by Area Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) and the Centro Tecnologic Forestal de Catalunya, and I was happily surprised by the active contribution and participation of members of all the co-organizing institutions. Your contribution greatly facilitated the Forum to achieve its aim to be a science-policy-practice interface. This has always been a challenge, and I think this year’s Forum was very successfull in this sense.
The EFUF Steering Group will closely cooperate with the staff at AMB to make the presentations available online in the coming weeks. We also invite you all to write a post for www.efuf.org on your presentation, or on your work in general.
Thanks again to all who contributed, before and behind the curtains. It has been a wonderfull experience, once more.
