Posted in Newsletter, tagged #HealthyTreesHealthyLives, Arbor Day, Community Tree News, eLearn Urban Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Urban Forest Council on April 20, 2018| Leave a Comment »
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).
Posted in Arbor Day, urban forestry program, tagged #GAarborday, Arbor Day, Georgia, trees on February 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »
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
Posted in urban forestry program, tagged #GAarborday, #GATrees, Arbor Day, Georgia Forestry Commission, green infrastructure, Tree City USA, tree risk on January 3, 2018| Leave a Comment »
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.
Posted in Arbor Day, urban forestry program, tagged #GAarborday, Arbor Day, Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission, tree planting, trees on February 19, 2016| Leave a Comment »
By Tim Womick, TreeCircus
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.
Posted in Arbor Day, urban forestry program, tagged Arbor Day, Arbor Day Foundation, Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Urban Forest Council, Tree City USA, trees, Trees Atlanta on February 15, 2016| Leave a Comment »
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.
Happy #GAarborday !
Posted in Arbor Day, urban forestry program, tagged Arbor Day, Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Urban Forest Council, tree benefits, tree planting, trees, urban forestry program on February 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »
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 17th 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
Posted in Arbor Day, Tree Campus USA, urban forestry program, tagged Arbor Day, Arbor Day Foundation, education, Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission, Tree Campus USA on January 29, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Attention for Tree Campus USAs and ACTrees members in Georgia.
In celebration of National Arbor Day on April 29, 2016, the Arbor Day Foundation is offering Tree Campus USA® Mini-Awards to support Arbor Day celebrations this spring!
Current Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) member organizations (Trees Atlanta, Georgia Urban Forest Council, Savannah Tree Foundation, Trees Columbus, coastal Bryan Tree Foundation), recognized Tree Campuses, or those college campuses planning on submitting for recognition in 2016 are eligible to apply for one of fifteen awards for up to $1,000 in cash assistance to hold a joint Arbor Day celebration between the college campus and the ACT member organization during spring 2016.
The celebration event must be centered around tree planting, care, education, or other urban forestry activities AND photos, videos, and/or impact stories must be collected from college student participants.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help foster the next generation of environmental stewards. Click here to learn more and apply today!
Georgia’s Tree Campus USAs include Agnes Scott College, Albany Technical College, Berry College, Clayton State University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Gwinnett Tech, Middle Georgia State University, Oxford College of Emory University, Spelman College, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia and Valdosta State.
