Georgia Arbor Day #GAarborday 2019

Throughout the state, we have celebrated Arbor Day in many different ways. Take a look at the official State of Georgia Arbor Day proclamation by Governor Brian Kemp and celebration photos from the past two weeks.

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Community Tree News from the Georgia Forestry Commission – April 2018

Here’s the latest edition of the Community Tree News newsletter with information on green infrastructure, watering newly planted trees, eLearn Urban Forestry, Vibrant Cities Lab, upcoming events and a new arboriculture/urban forestry degree program at UGA.

Community Tree News – April 2018 (link to PDF).

 

 

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Georgia to Celebrate Trees’ Many Benefits on Arbor Day #GAarborday

For Immediate Release…February 8, 2018

Citizens across the state will observe Georgia’s Arbor Day on Thursday and Friday, February 15 and 16, 2018. Special events that celebrate the many benefits of trees will be held in cities including Atlanta, Athens and Woodbine.

“Georgia’s Arbor Day is always held on the third Friday in February, which is in the middle of our planting season,” said Chuck Williams, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. “Whether you’re adding trees to your yard, a city park, or any other landscape, you’re doing something important for the environment. Trees are a renewable resource that link us all,” Williams said.

Georgia has earned the distinction of being the #1 state for forestry in the nation. Georgia boasts 24.8 million acres of forestland, with 90 percent of it privately owned. The forest industry has a $35.2 billion impact on Georgia’s economy, with the urban forestry sector adding another $4 billion. Forests in Georgia provide an estimated $37 billion in ecosystem services, including clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitat.

In Atlanta, an Arbor Day event co-hosted by the Georgia Forestry Commission and Georgia Urban Forest Council on Thursday, February 15 at Trees Atlanta will feature a panel discussion with Metro Atlanta mayors and managers. Discussion will focus on collaboration that builds partnerships for the protection of community trees. The Tree City, Tree Line and Tree Campus USA programs will recognize their new and renewing members, and Columbus, Ga. will be honored for its 40th year as a Tree City. Gerald McDowell, Executive Director of Aerotropolis Atlanta Community Improvement District, will be the keynote speaker.

In Athens, a regional tree board roundtable, tree planting, and Tree City USA Awards lunch will be held at Flinchum’s Phoenix. In Woodbine, a tree care seminar at the Woodbine Community Center will cover invasive plants and insects, pruning, hurricane preparation and more.

For more information about Arbor Day events, visit http://www.gatrees.org/resources/events/. For more about the benefits of trees, and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.

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For more information, contact: Wendy Burnett 478.751.3535 wburnett@gfc.state.ga.us

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Looking Forward in 2018 with Georgia’s Sustainable Community Forestry Program #GATrees

Athens, GA

Five-Year Plan meets in Macon

Tree City USA 40th

A live oak in Claxton, Georgia in the snow – January 3, 2018

There’s much to look forward to from the Sustainable Community Forestry Program in 2018. We’re starting off the year with a bang in several key program areas.

• First, efforts to include green infrastructure as a part of development through the Coastal Regional Commission are paying off!! We are meeting our goal to make sure green infrastructure is mentioned in each of the plans for any major developments along the coast.
• Thirteen new Tree City USA communities and one new Tree Campus USA joined us in 2017, and Georgia Power is again our longest standing Tree Line USA utility. The City of Columbus will celebrate its 40th Anniversary as a Tree City USA in 2018.
• GFC is a clearinghouse for information related to storms, risk and trees. If you are a city arborist and need community tree resource planning, tree risk evaluation, or homeowner tree care materials, look no further. Attend the Georgia Urban Forest Council’s first quarterly program on January 24th in Richmond Hill for a “ready” packet and current tree risk information.
• Plans are underway for the first simultaneous statewide Arbor Day celebration on Thursday, February 15, in Atlanta, Athens, Columbus and Woodbine. Local tree board members and elected leaders will be recognized with certificates, photos and news releases for their tree-mendous volunteer efforts.
• Our quarterly Constant Contact newsletter, Community Tree News, will be published this week and will announce the recertified Tree City USA and Tree Campus USA communities. Don’t forget! Post your local Arbor Day event on the Georgia Grove.
• Lastly, stay tuned for the release of the new Five-Year Plan for Georgia’s Urban and Community Forest 2018 – 2022 to see where we’re headed in the future and to contribute your own ideas for creating resilient urban ecosystems in all of Georgia’s communities.

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TreeCircus Visits Warner Robins #GAarborday

By Tim Womick, TreeCircus

Pam Carswell, Keep Macon Bibb Beautiful

 

Russell Elementary in Warner Robbins where my first show of the day was prides themselves as “The Best School in the Universe.”  One of the reasons why they levy such a claim is their Junior Master Gardeners program. I’ve never heard of one before.

For over 35 years, volunteers have been participating in Master Gardeners (MG). The training is offered through the Georgia Cooperative Extension.  Their goal is to bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to local communities.  It’s working at Russell.

There needs to be more MG’s volunteering in our schools.  America’s future is our children.  Make a difference. Volunteer at your local school…they need you.  I salute Russell Elementary.

Later in the day I visited Macon’s Stratford Academy.  I love Macon for several reasons but at the top of the list would be their Yoshino Cherry trees.  Believe it or not, Macon has more cherry trees than Washington, DC!  During their annual International Cherry Blossom  Festival in March and begun in 1983, they sell 2,000 Yoshinos to the public (at $10 bucks a sapling…you do the math) that helps fund Keep Macon Bibb Beautiful.

All across Georgia, Keep America Beautiful affiliates work as the backbone of our statewide tree community.  But not only do they advocate for trees, they pick up a lot of litter (people who litter are trash) and coordinate recycling efforts too.

What is your city known for?  Take a hint from the fine folk in Macon and start your own tree festival. You’ll stimulate your economy, add to local beauty and contribute to a much needed healthy urban forest canopy.

Teach your children well.

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Mayors’ Symposium on Trees #GAarborday

Looking forward to our first Mayors’ Symposium on Trees and Statewide Arbor Day Celebration on Wednesday, February 17th at Trees Atlanta. The event is SOLD OUT and we have six mayors attending.

• Mayor Patti Garrett, Decatur
• Mayor Donna Pittman, Duluth
• Mayor Denis Shortal, Dunwoody
• Mayor Derek Easterling, Kennesaw
• Mayor Robert Trammell, Luthersville
• Mayor Jefferson Riley, Mansfield

Happy #GAarborday !

 

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Georgia Arbor Day News

URBAN UPDATE NEWSLETTER February 2016

The February issue of the Urban Update newsletter (click the link above) is full of information for tree board members, including a list of recertified Georgia Tree City USAs, information about the Mayor’s Symposium on Trees and Statewide Arbor Day Celebration on February 17^th at Trees Atlanta,  A tree board webinar series, Arbor Day facts, food forests, a tree risk workshop in coastal Georgia, and more!

Happy Arbor Day!

Berry College Tree Team

From the Georgia Forestry Commission, Sustainable Community Forestry Program

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