Georgia is known for its pine trees. Unfortunately, Southern Pine Beetles (SPB) are a constant in the Georgia environment, using native pine trees as their primary habitat. Known as “the most destructive pest in the Southeast,” SPB has killed about $300 million worth of pine trees over the past five decades in Georgia alone. Georgia Forestry Commission Forest Health specialists say heightened activity is happening in Georgia right now.

Watch a recording of a free informational webinar with our partners at the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia Arborist Association and learn more about identifying Southern Pine Beetle, what communities and commercial arborists can do to slow Southern Pine Beetle spread, and about mitigating wildfire risk.

Each year, the Georgia Tree Council rewards individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities, and counties for outstanding work in protecting and enhancing our community forests. This year, award recipients will be honored at our Annual Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon on November 6, 12 noon, at the Jekyll Island Club Resort.

We are currently calling for nominations for 2024 Excellence in Urban Forestry Award recipients. Do you know an individual, organization, municipality, or business doing good work in supporting and maintaining Georgia's urban and community forests?

Visit https://gatreecouncil.org/what-we-do/programs/excellence-in-urban-forestry-awards.html to make a nomination. Deadline to submit is September 13.

Join us for our first "Members Only" social in Macon on October 17th! We will start with a tour of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park with several guides from different groups. This will be followed by a social gathering at Fall Line Brewery, where GTC will provide light food & drink.

This event is free, but open only to GTC members with an active membership. To register, you must be an active member; if you are not yet a member and would like to attend, we welcome you to sign up for a membership. Click on the "green" to read more!

A great way to keep up with urban and community forestry in Georgia and be "in the know" about educational programs, technical assistance, and resource opportunities is to sign up for the Georgia Tree Council email list. Click on the green icon to sign up!

This popular annual educational event, hosted this year by Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, is for tree keepers on any type of campus setting - colleges and universities, corporate campuses, botanical gardens, etc. Attendees include directors and staff of landscaping departments, as well as grounds crews, administrators, sustainability leaders, arborists, and others who care for campus trees. We'll talk about tree issues common to campuses such as safety and risk, soil compaction, campus growth and trees, and many other topics. We'll shine a spotlight on campuses in the southeast Georgia region and their tree planting and preservation projects. Don't work for a campus? That's okay - everyone is invited to attend. Read more and register.

Welcome to the Georgia Forestry Forum! This is a podcast that explores trees and forests - the rich and renewable resources - and the innumerable benefits we humans get from them!

Today's topic is all things Georgia Arbor Day! Join Seth Hawkins of the Georgia Forestry Commission and Mary Lynne Beckley of the Georgia Tree Council for a discussion on the importance of Arbor Day, more about how you can participate in this year's festivities, and all about the importance of trees in our lives.

We're thrilled to be presenting the Annual Georgia Tree Conference this year at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Attendees will enjoy informative general sessions and interesting breakouts, all with knowledgeable speakers and urban forestry experts to help you gain the knowledge you need to care for your community's urban forest.

Learn more about the Jekyll Island Club Resort here: https://www.jekyllclub.com/

This event also features our Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon, a tour of Jekyll Island's trees, and an evening reception with food, drink, and a silent auction benefitting the Georgia Tree Council's work.

CEUs will be available.

Make sure you are on our email list to receive announcements about this GTC signature educational event as details are posted!