by Naomi Zürcher | Apr 3, 2017 | Articles
An article in the Guardian (23 March 2017) has stated that the EC is poised to pass regulations that would ban the use of Neonicotinoid pesticides throughout Europe. The only exclusion would be greenhouse production.
As a Consulting Arborist, I have witnessed the devastating results of Neonic use on pollinator and beneficial insect populations. While many professionals who use these chemicals are conscientious and follow label instructions to the letter, Neonics are systemics that have a multi-month field life and so even being true to the label does not prevent pollinator mortality.
Here’s the link to the article, announcing this important step forward in increasing quality of life for all things that co-exist with us, within the Urban Forest and beyond:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/23/europe-poised-for-total-ban-on-bee-harming-pesticides
by Naomi Zürcher | Feb 10, 2017 | Events
Plan-It Geo, a geospatial and software technology firm specializing in urban forestry, planning, and natural resources, has put together a Winter Webinar Series, consisting of 3 Webinars focused on computer-based Urban Forest assessment / management tools.
http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4ebc7b03f70907b7b0a743af2&id=de2f8280b4&e=73e0809391
Dates and Time:
• February 27 – 2 PM EST (NY), 7 PM UK, 8 PM Western Europe;
• March 1, 2 – 1 PM EST (NY), 6 PM UK, 7 PM Western Europe
by Rik De Vreese | Feb 10, 2017 | Events
The Online iTree Workshop will showcase community projects that have utilized i-Tree in analyzing and reporting information on the trees growing in these settings. Various i-Tree tools were used to tell stories, present information and help develop strategies in these communities. This online workshop will introduce these success stories to you during the web program.
i-Tree 2017 is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The i-Tree Tools help communities of all sizes to strengthen their urban forest management and advocacy efforts by quantifying the structure of community trees and the environmental services that trees provide.
Time: 1 pm Eastern Standard Time (New York) – 7 pm Western Europe, 6 pm UK
Register here: link
More information on iTree: itreetools.org.
by Naomi Zürcher | Feb 3, 2017 | Events
US Dept. of Environmental Protection (2003). Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff –
https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/nps_urban-facts_final.pdf
On Thursday, the 9th of February, at Noon (US Eastern Standard Time – +5 hours for the UK and + 6 hours for the European Continent), ‘Urban Forestry Today’ will present “Underfoot and Underappreciated: Urban Soils in the Age of Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management”. The host webcast speaker, Dr. Susan Day, Virginia Tech, is an Associate Professor with the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation.
This webcast will focus on a better understanding of how the soil environment impacts and affects urban tree longevity, performance and key environmental benefits associated with the urban forest, including stormwater management. Dr. Day will also discuss the use of engineered solutions (structural soils, suspended pavement), as well as the effects of soil compaction and remediation measures.
Dr. Day has focused her teaching and research on a variety of urban forestry issues with a particular emphasis on land development and urban design issues and how root / soil interactions affect the contribution of trees to urban ecosystems.
For those who cannot attend live in-person, the webcast will be archived in the ‘videos’ section at www.urbanforestrytoday.org
Author: Naomi Zurcher
by Rik De Vreese | Jan 19, 2017 | Articles
Prof. Dr. Francesco Ferrini (Dept. of Agro-Food & Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy), is a frequent contributor to scientific Journals and the extensive Urban Forestry and Aboricultural body of knowledge. In this ISA Conference presentation paper, originally presented at the 2015 International Society of Arboriculture annual Conference in Orlando, Florida USA, Dr. Ferrini discusses that body of knowledge through the categorization of historical and existing scientific literature as well as future research needs, determined by various surveys and questionnaires with a strong focus on the effect that Climate Change will have on urban tree well-being and Urban Forest management.
You can read the full article on the website of our colleagues at the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture): http://www.isa-arbor.com/events/schedule/resources/167/Ferrini_Arborization.pdf.
Prof. Ferrini’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-ferrini-57b0025
Contributed by Naomi Zurcher.
by Rik De Vreese | Jan 12, 2017 | EFUF2017
Welcome to the twentieth edition of the European Forum on Urban Forestry that will take place in Barcelona from May 31 to June 2 2017. We invite you to participate in what is going to be an event of reference in the field of open spaces in metropolitan areas and, this year, on its limits considered as spaces of opportunity to connect and structure the territory.
Under the heading “Urban Forest Boundaries Within, between and beyond the city”, we lay on the table the importance of urban and periurban forests in order to build up a sustainable and healthy landscape. We address issues such as ecological connectivity, the compatibility of ecosystem services, biodiversity and disturbances, and issues like the social component of forest management or the planning of the limits in connection with the new culture of leisure. For that reason, we invite you to participate in the Congress so that we can raise together the latent problematics in spaces of contact and interaction between two realities which destiny is to live together: the city and the open spaces.
In this context, we invite you to submit your summaries to the “Call for papers 2017″ and to share your experiences, projects and knowledge on open metropolitan spaces. The forum is addressed to researchers and professionals working on the mentioned issues. Depending on their proposals, they will be asked to participate in a round table, to perform a Pechakucha presentation or to defend a poster.
You have time until next February 28!
by Rik De Vreese | Jan 9, 2017 | Articles
Lively on-site discussions at the EFUF in Glasgow (2011). (c) Cecil Konijnendijk
In a recent article in Arborist News, EFUF chair Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch overviews 20 years of urban forestry and arboriculture research in Europe. Our EFUF (European Forum on Urban Forestry) has been playing an important role, writes Prof. Konijnendijk.
[testimonials display_content=full showposts=1 orderby=author]
The article than continues giving a flavour of research on urban forestry and arboriculture published in the scientific journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, and sheds its light on developments expected in 2017.
A nice line of thought completes the article:
Urban trees should not be forgotten as the ultimate nature-based solutions to many of today’s urban challenges.
You can read the full article here or below (shared with permission from Arborist News and the International Society of Arboriculture).
