Georgia Tree Council Program Presentations
The Georgia Tree Council informs and educates communities on urban forestry issues. The following is a sampling of presentations from our educational programming over the recent years.
Annual Georgia Tree Conference 2024, Jekyll Island
We enjoyed an outstanding Annual Georgia Tree Conference this year (Nov. 6-7) at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Our conference title was "Supporting Urban Forest Resiliency in a Changing World," and attendees enjoyed general and breakout sessions with fantastic speakers and urban forestry experts to help them gain the knowledge they need to care for their urban forest. Below are PDF files of some speaker presentations:
Jekyll Island Revitalization Tree Projects: Cliff Gawron, Director of Landscaping and Planning, Jekyll Island Authority
Maritime Forest Restoration: Stephanie Knox, Stewardship Director, St. Simons Land Trust
Improving Urban Trees: Fred Raley, PhD, CF, Director - Western Gulf Forest Tree Improvement Program, Tree Improvement Coordinator II, Texas Forest Service
Is Black the New Green? The Potential of Biochar for Tree Management: Kelby Fite, PhD, VP, Director of Research, Bartlett Research Labs
The New Cancellations: Trees and Homeowners Insurance: Kay Evanovich, Arborist, City of Decatur
Equitable Canopy, Planting Priorities, and Technology: Rachel Ormseth, PlanIT Geo
Trees and Wildfire in Urban-Suburban Areas - Management Recommendations for Communities: Holly Campbell, Public Service Associate, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Evaluating and Communicating Tree Health Indicators and Benefits - A Case Study of UGA Campus Trees: Iain Dallas, Holly Campbell, Dan Johnson, Hannah Mobley, University of Georgia
Click below on the links to download .pdf files accompanying Dr. Coder's talk on Nov. 7 at the conference, "Don't Look Behind You – Seawater Is Gaining on Your Trees!"
TREES AND SEA WATER PART I: FLOOD, SURGE, RISE
TREES AND SEA WATER PART II: SOIL AND TREE SALT STRESS IMPACTS
Campus Tree Conference 2024: Georgia Southern University, Statesboro
Campus treekeepers from all over the state attended this interactive, information-filled conference. Expert speakers provided sessions and tours to give attendees the best up-to-date information for their work on campuses.
Presentations:
Healthy Soils for Healthy Trees: Holly Campbell, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource, University of Georgia
Tree Care at Georgia Southern University Statesboro Campus: Maurice Coley, Grounds Superintendent
Service Learning Projects at East Georgia State College: David Chevalier, Ph.D., Associate VP, Academic Affairs and Erin Youmans, Regional Coordinator for Magnolia Midlands Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center
The Arboretum at Georgia Southern University Savannah Campus: Mike Carr, Grounds Superintendent
Mitigating the Impacts of Southern Pine Beetle
Southern Pine Beetle (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 the recording of a recent informational webinar and download the slides.
Speakers Seth Hawkins, U&CF Program Coordinator, Georgia Forestry Commission; Christie Bryant, Certified Arborist, Past-President of the Georgia Arborist Association; and Aubrey Brown, Wildland Urban Interface Specialist, Georgia Forestry Commission, talk about identifying SPB, the types of SPB, management tactics, what arborists and communities can do to slow the spread, and mitigating wildfire risk.
Click here to watch the recording.
Click here to download the slides.
Threats to the Urban Forest: Wildfire and Pests
At our second quarter educational program on May 21 in Jefferson, we took a look at "Threats to the Urban Forest." Mark Wiles, Wildfire Prevention Specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission, spoke on the Firewise USA® program and how to protect your home and community from the threat of wildfire. Seth Hawkins explained what the wildland-urban interface is and reported on the new Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualification module of the International Society of Arboriculture. See Seth's presentation here. The City of Jefferson Tree Council shared the mission of their urban forestry program.
Next, Dr. Scott Merkle, Professor of Biology with the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, shared the research he and his colleagues are conducting at the Merkle Lab, such as in-vitro propagation approaches for conservation and restoration of threatened North American trees, like the American chestnut, eastern and Carolina hemlocks, and green ash and white ash, all under attack by exotic pests and pathogens. See slides from his presentation here: "Applying Biotechnology to Conserve and Restore Trees for Georgia's Urban Forest."
First Quarter Program and State Arbor Day Event 2024
The Georgia Tree Council presented its First Quarter Program in conjunction with the Georgia Forestry Commission's State Arbor Day Event on February 20 in Madison. Thank you, City of Madison, for hosting us and helping us present an excellent for attendees! The program included talks from U.S Forest Service Research Social Scientist Cassandra Johnson Gaither, Athens Clarke County Community Forester Mateo Fennell, a panel of Trees Across Georgia and Georgia ReLeaf grant recipients, and a ceremony honoring Tree City USA communities, Tree Campus USA universities, and Tree Line USA utilities. Click below to see .pdf files of presentations.
From U.S Forest Service Research Social Scientist Cassandra Johnson Gaither: Housing Insecurity and Resident Access to Urban Forestry Benefits in Atlanta, Georgia
From Mateo Fennell, Athens-Clarke County Community Forestry Coordinator: Managing Aging Canopies
Campus Tree Conference 2023
University of Georgia Continuing Education Center
Athens, Georgia
September 14, 2023
Managing Campus Trees at Auburn University: Alex Hedgepath, Campus Arborist
Risk Assessment & Tree Inventory at University of Kentucky: Stacy Borden, Grounds Manager and Campus Arborist
UGA's DW Brooks Pedestrian Mall Project: Scott Simpson, Landscape Architect
Second Quarter Program: Managing Tree with Storms in Mind
We gathered at City Hall in Dublin on May 18, 2023 for "Managing Trees with Storms in Mind." Attendees gained valuable information through the following presentations from Karen Firehock, The Green Infrastructure Center; Darren Green, City of Alexandria, LA; Maymunah Mirza of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency; Scott Berta from Plant Newnan; and Joan Scales, Georgia Forestry Commission:
Readiness, Response, Recovery: Managing Trees with Storms in Mind: Karen Firehock and Darren Green
Sample Contract Debris Removal Disposing
Sample Contract Debris Removal Monitoring
Public Assistance and How to Get It: Maymunah Mirza, GEMA
Urban and Community Forestry Resources: Joan Scales, GFC
Plant Newnan: Starting a Nonprofit: Scott Berta
First Quarter Program and State Arbor Day Event 2022
Cumming, Georgia
The City of Cumming graciously hosted us for this event at their Recreation and Parks facility. Kay Evanovich, City Arborist for Decatur talked to us about space and soil needs of trees and also the best tree species for urban plantings. Georgia Forestry Commission's Seth Hawkins discussed proper tree planting and did a tree planting demonstration for us. At noon, we honored Tree City USA communities, Tree Campus USA colleges and universities, and Tree Line USA utility companies in attendance. To wrap up this informative day, a panel consisting Tiffany Bowen of Keep Warner Robins Beautiful, Chan Weeks of Keep Douglasville Beautiful, Jennifer Archer from the City of Cumming, and Susan Russell, Arborist for the City of Jefferson shared words of wisdom about presenting successful community tree events. Download and view program slides here:
Space and Soil Needs of Trees and The Best Urban Tree Species: Kay Evanovich, Arborist, City of Decatur
Proper Tree Planting: Seth Hawkins, Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager, Georgia Forestry Commission
Tree City/Campus/Line USA Recognition Ceremony - read about the groups in attendance that were honored. Do you know which Georgia City has been a Tree City USA the longest (45 years)?
2022 Annual Georgia Tree Conference
Rome, Georgia November 1-3
The City of Rome rolled out the red carpet for us and helped make this conference a success! Entitled "Good Tree Investments Make Environment / Economic Sense," this conference took a look at three important points: "Changing Minds: Trees are not an Expense; Changing Methods: Giving Trees What They Deserve; and Changing Motives: The Rewards for Going Beyond the Minimum." See full agenda here and check back later to see additional speaker slides posted.
Combatting Invasive Plants in Community Forests: Dr. Christine Mutiti, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA
Healthy Trees, Healthy Lives: Joan Scales, Partnership Coordinator, Urban and Community Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission
The Evolution of the Consulting Arborist into a Design Professional: David Dechant, LEED AP, SITES AP, ENV SP, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, ISA Certified Municipal Specialist, ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, Arborguard Tree Specialists
Urban Forest Storm Mitigation Planning: Seth Hawkins, Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator, Georgia Forestry Commission
Investing in Trees Means Investing in Future Tree Professionals: Holly Campbell, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
New Research at the Bartlett Research Laboratories: Matt Borden, DPM
Motivations, Barriers and Opportunities for Increasing Credentialed Commercial Tree Workers: Beau Brodbeck, PhD, Auburn University Extension and Jason Gordon, PhD, University of Georgia
2022 Campus Tree Conference
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Healthy Soil = Healthy Campus Trees: Preventing and Mitigating Soil Compaction Due to Foot Traffic
Holly Campbell, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens
Georgia's Arboretums
Where can we go to see magnificent collections of trees? In this two-part "Georgia's Arboretums" webinar series, representatives from various Georgia botanical gardens and arboretums talk to us about their venue, its location, history, and the outstanding trees maintained there. These gardens and arboretums are excellent places to visit and learn about tree species.
Part One features Amanda Bennett of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Scott Merkle of the Thompson Mill Forest and State Arboretum in Braselton, and Jennifer Pollard of the Lockerly Arboretum in Milledgeville. See the recording here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7157833215848316429
Part Two features Carolyn Altman of the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro; Kate McAlpin, Executive Director of the Woodlands Garden in Decatur; Alpharetta City Arborist David Shostak on Alpharetta's city arboretums; and Dr. Tim Smalley of the University of Georgia Arboretum. See the recording here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5693863170433349646
PLANTING AND PRESERVING TREES FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Alpharetta City Hall
May 11, 2022
Program topics and speakers:
1) Tree planting to address stormwater mitigation: Learn ways that the City of Alpharetta has incorporated trees into their stormwater management plans with Jill Bazinet, Senior Engineer, City of Alpharetta, Georgia. See Jill's slide presentation here.
2) The results of a two-year stormwater mitigation study of urban tree clusters and single trees, by specie, in Baltimore area, and how trees count in the SoLoCo Stormwater Design Manual being implemented in the Southern Low Country of South Carolina with Bill Hodgins, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Center for Watershed Protection, Fulton, Maryland. See Bill's slide presentation here.
3) Streambank stabilization using natural channel design, plus a quick overview of permitting, with V\Brian King, P.E., Engineering 303. See Brian's slide presentation here.
4) Designing with Trees for Stormwater Management: Learn about innovative landscape design and tree planting projects that act as natural stormwater mitigators with Thomas Brown, RLA, ASLA, CLARB, Arcadis US, Inc., Atlanta. See Thomas' slide presentation here.
TREES AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY: A program in partnership with the Georgia Power Company
Webinar, February 23-24, 2021
Right Tree, Right Place: Bill Haws, Utility Arborist Supervisor, Georgia Power
Why Do They Cut Them Like That? Utility Arboriculture Explained: Geoff Kempter, Technical Services Manager, Asplundh
Note: During the Covid Pandemic 2020-21 (and first quarter 2022), the Georgia Tree Council presented webinars only, and attendees received links to the webinar recordings after each program.
GEORGIA TREE COUNCIL'S FIRST QUARTERLY PROGRAM: BACK TO BASICS
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Macon GA February 12, 2020
Proper Tree Planting: Seth Hawkins, Community Forester, Georgia Forestry Commission
Seth covers such topics as site selection, species selection, available space for root growth, and more
Proper Pruning: Dan Bauer, Arbor Equity, Inc.
Dan reviews objectives of pruning, good pruning methods, bad pruning practices, tools, and safety.
GEORGIA TREE CONFERENCE
November 7-8, 2019
Stone Mountain, GA
Green Infrastructure to Green Jobs: Nick Deffley, MPP, Sustainability Director, City of Savannah
Soil Moisture: The Most Important Factor for the Survival of Street Trees: Dan Whitehead, HortSource; Dr. Wei Zhang and Dr. Hailing Yang, Tree Diaper (Zynnovation, LLC)
The Importance of Urban Nature: Amanda Aragon, PhD Student, University of Georgia's Center for Geospatial Research
Community Forestry & Arboriculture: Jason Gordon, Assistant Professor of Community Forestry, University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Carving Out Your Niche: Paula Randler, Program Manager, Urban and Community Forestry, US Forest Service, Southern Region
CAMPUS TREE CONFERENCE
September 12, 2019
University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus
Tree Management Plans for Campuses: Karina Leung, Sustainability Fellow, Agnes Scott College
Future Climate Variability: Pam Knox, Agricultural Climatologist, University of Georgia
Beyond an Inventory: Christopher Breedlove, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, Bartlett Inventory Solutions (BIS) Technical Advisor
Living with Wild Neighbors: Linda May, Outreach Coordinator, Urban Wildlife Program, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Soil Compaction on Campus - How to Prevent It, How to Correct It: Larry Morris, Ph.D. University of Georgia
TREES AS GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE
August 27, 2019
Rainwater Center, Valdosta GA
Trees and Stormwater Management: Charlie Marcus, Certified Arborist, Forester, Legacy Arborist Services, Tallahassee, FL
Tools and Resources for Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Jenny Gulick, Principal Consulting Community Forester, Certified Arborist, Urban Canopy Works, Kentucky
GSI - Reinventing the Use of Trees in the Built Environment: Mary Ann Uhlmann, Environmental Horticulturist, Urban Horticulture Consulting, Marietta GA
TREES AS GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE
August 8, 2019
Pond & Co - Peachtree Corners, GA
Utilizing the Urban Forest for Stormwater Management: Brenda Guglielmina, DeepRoot Green Infrastructure, LLC
Using the Urban Forest to Manage Stormwater: Karen Firehock, Executive Director, Green Infrastructure Center, Charlottesville, VA
The Campus Landscape: Then, Now, and Tomorrow: Jason Gregory, RLA, LEED AP, Sr. Planner, Capital Space Planning and Space Management, Georgia Institute of Technology and Jerry Young, Landscape Project Manager, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Natural Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Benefits of Atlanta's Urban Tree Canopy: Tamara Graham, Green Infrastructure Project Manager, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
"TREE ORDINANCES: WHICH TYPE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY?"
February 7, 2019 at the City of Duluth Maxine Garner Center
The Evolution of Tree Ordinances by Joe Burgess, Georgia Forestry Commission
2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: "BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITY FORESTS" NOVEMBER 14-15 AT THE JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB HOTEL
The Coming Hurricanes, Sea Level Rise, and the Effects on Community Trees by Dr. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology and Healthcare, Warnell School, University of Georgia, Athens
The Impact of Light Pollution on Urban Ecology and Human Health by Puneet Dwivedi, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sustainability Sciences, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens
2018 COLLEGE CANOPY CONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER 11 – At this year’s College Canopy Conference at Clayton State University in Morrow, we heard talks on the latest research regarding changing urban landscapes and concerns such as the West Nile and Zyka viruses; campus sustainability, best practices for treecare and campus communication; tree risk assessment and keeping people safe; establishing a butterfly garden, pollinator garden, or arboretum; and specific challenges for treecare on college campuses.
Influence of Forest to Urban Conversions on Incidence of West Nile Virus near Atlanta, GA. Dr. Graeme Lockaby and Nicole Castaneda, Auburn University
Web-based and Mobile GIS Applications Used for Crowd-Sourcing and Citizen Science in Urban Forestry Dr. Allison Bailey, University of North Georgia
TREES AS GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE
AUGUST 8 – The City of Suwanee hosted GUFC’s third quarterly program. our fourth annual “Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure” educational event. David Dechant, LEED AP, SITES AP and Board Certified Master Arborist at Arborguard Tree Specialists; Joe Burgess, Community Forester and Regional Specialist, with the Georgia Forestry Commission; and William Hodgins of the Center for Watershed Protection in Ellicott City, MD, as well as panelists Christine McKay (EPA Region 4), Amanda Hallauer (City of Atlanta Watershed Management), and Eric Kuehler, USDA Forest Service, led our continued conversation on the challenges and recommendations for incorporating trees into the growth of our communities for vital stormwater management and other benefits. Click on the blue links below to view the presentations.
David Dechant, LEED AP, SITES AP and Board Certified Master Arborist at Arborguard Tree Specialists: Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) may improve the resiliency of urban centers. In addition to learning how GSI can be implemented, attendees will learn about the difficulties landscape design professionals face getting newly planted trees large enough to provide GSI benefits.
Tree ordinances and Green Infrastructure: Why Overachieving is Killing Community Forest Sustainability: Joe Burgess, Community Forester and Regional Specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission
William Hodgins, P.E., Senior Water Resources Engineer, Center for Watershed Protection, Ellicott City, MD “Making Trees Count” is the result of a project funded by the USFS National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. Through the project the Center sought to answer the question, what is the effectiveness of urban tree planting for reducing runoff, nutrients and sediment? The project team developed a water balance model to provide an improved method for quantifying the stormwater benefits of urban tree canopy. The results can assist with calculating tree planting credits for pollutant load and stormwater in the urban environment. Also visit http://www.cwp.org/making-urban-trees-count for more detailed information.
APRIL 25, 2018: GUFC SECOND QUARTER PROGRAM, ROME GA:
MARTIN L. CIPOLLINI, PHD, DANA PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY, BERRY COLLEGE: Restoring Mountain Longleaf Pine and American Chestnut in Georgia
RICK BARNES, DOWNEY TREES, INC.: A Trail of Trees to Georgia’s History(presentation). Click here to download accompanying notes.
NOVEMBER 7, 2017: GUFC ANNUAL CONFERENCE, CALLAWAY GARDENS LARRY MORRIS, PH.D, WARNELL SCHOOL OF FOREST AND NATURAL RESOURCES: Components of Soil Health: Essential Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Conditions
FROM 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
COMMUNICATING, CONNECTING, AND ENGAGING PEOPLE WITH URBAN FORESTRY: Paul D. Ries, College of Forestry, Oregon State University
COLLECTIVE IMPACT: A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN FORESTRY COLLABORATION: Paul D. Ries, College of Forestry, Oregon State University
ECOLOGICAL RENOVATION IN COMMUNITIES: Dr. Kim Coder, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia 2016 PAPER, PRESENTATION
STREAMBANK RESTORATION: Duncan Hughes, Soque River Watershed Association
CREATING COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS: Kathy Morgan, Hwy 278 Improvement Association
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Cassandra Johnson, US Forest Service, Southern Research Station
CHEW CREWS IN URBAN FOREST RESTORATION: Elizabeth G. King, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Presentations from “Continuing the Conversation: Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure,” August 18, 2016, Alpharetta City Hall: “Urban Forest Systems and Stormwater“ by Eric Kuehler, USDA Forest Service; “City of Atlanta’s GI Strategic Action Plan” by Susan Rutherford, City of Atlanta Watershed Department; “Alpharetta Stormwater and Trees,” by David Shostak, Arborist for City of Alpharetta; “Georgia Land Conservation Program,” by Fuller Callaway, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; “Trees and Stormwater” by Andrea Greco, Landscape Architect, Pond and Company; “Monitoring Underserved Communities,“ by Darryl Haddock of the West Atlanta Watershed Association.
Presentations from the Fourth Annual GUFC College Canopy Conference, September 17, 2014, Berry College: Why Trees Fail by Dan Bauer, Arbor Equity, Inc; Trees and Sustainability by Susan Kidd, Director of Sustainability at Agnes Scott College; Trees, Critical Root Zones, and Construction, by Jamie Blackburn of Arborguard Tree Specialists; and Trees and Management Plans by David Gennaro, Grounds Director, Spelman College.
Presentations from GUFC’s 23rd Annual Conference, “Tree Canopy and Green Infrastructure: Creating Vibrant and Healthy Communities,” Oct. 23-24, 2013, Columbus, GA:
B.G. Lockaby, Ph.D, Auburn University: The impacts of land use changes on stormwater flow and water quality and the scientific data behind arguments for increasing green infrastructure.
Karen Firehock, Executive Director of the Green Infrastructure Center, Charlottesville, VA: Green Infrastructure Planning and Green Infrastructure Policies and Ordinances.
Mike Beezhold, Senior Planner, CDM Smith: The Lenexa, Kansas Rain to Recreation Program
Mark Duntemann, Consulting Arborist, Natural Path Urban Forestry Consulting: Managing the Liability of Urban Trees.
Tara Merrill, Environmental Sciences & Techologies, Inc.: Green Growth Guidelines
