Treeworks Environmental Practice Conferences and Seminars 2009-2010 - Your Say
Dates, details and venues to be confirmed.
Treework Environmental Practice is proud to be working with the Arboricultural Association and the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and with Barrell Tree Consultancy over the climate change series. We are also grateful to the Forestry Commission and Barcham Trees for their sponsorship. We are now seeking sponsors for the 2009-2010 programme.
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| Lynne Boddy | L to R: Lee Klinger, Richard Bargett, John Adams |
Our proposed topics for 2009-10 are outlined below. Some of these build on themes we started to explore in 2007-08. Others are new, inspired by colleagues or innovative studies, and have been introduced because we believe they speak to the interests and concerns of the tree and conservation world.
Trees: the key to climate-proofing our cities (Part 2)
This builds on the successful 2008 conference (Part 1), which established the scientific basis and importance of urban climate control and the role trees should play in this, bringing together the range of disciplines necessary to climate proof our cities. We learned we must not ignore our clear responsibilities to do this, as the risks from procrastinating will affect the current generation. The time has now come to bring together those who influence government and policy-makers to develop an effective framework, the National Canopy Initiative, that will urgently translate theory into practice.
Trees: survival and conflict resolution
July 2008’s Arboricultural Journal’s article describing how the control of trees that provide human livelihood has implications for survival and political participation.
In Israel and Palestine, the olive tree symbolises both the potential for reconciliation and the means to control livelihoods. In arid Africa, where trees mean life, experience is that engagement with communities and understanding native wisdom about trees, supports economic and social independence. This seminar will look at examples where trees mean more than just amenity and have come to influence the fundamentals of social processes.
Trees, ecofunction and wellbeing: planning for health through understanding the biochemistry of trees
Exploring the role of trees in bioplanning, and drawing on first nation peoples and lost knowledge, this event will look at the design of urban and rural landscapes according to medicinal, nutritional and herbicidal properties. If trees can help reduce the incidence of cancer and asthma, knowledge of species and their biochemistry will be important in deciding which trees to plant in locations where people are vulnerable. Speakers will explain the chemical effects of trees on the environment and how to understand their synergistic effects.
Calling the utility companies to account: making good damage done to trees, is there a case for a ‘tree wind fall’ tax?
Since the early 1990s, works done by utility companies have greatly affected tree roots and the health and condition of urban forests and highway trees. While the companies have made enormous profits from digging up roads and roots to provide their services, municipal arborists and tree managers have to manage the consequences. When trees fail, some causing physical harm, it is virtually impossible to pursue the causal link. The long-term effects from tree decline and loss are wide-ranging, affecting human health, wellbeing and climate. The damage is inexorable, hidden and persistent. This event intends to examine the real costs to society and how reparations might come about.
AN IMPORTANT INVITATION -
We would greatly appreciate if you could leave your feedback in the comments below. Thank You.
Trees: the key to climate-proofing our cities (Part 2)
Having attended the first conference, which I found to be exceelent in all respects I look forward to Part2 with eager anticipation
CH
Comment by Chris Hudson — 28 January 2009 @ 8:33 pm
I am interested to hear that you might be putting on a conference with an international theme but focusing more on the people than the trees. You are of course opening up a can of worms and such a seminar could go in a number of different directions.
What might be useful and attractive to UK arborists is the issue of community engagement. UK arboriculture is still very much focused on trees, although of course a variety of activities and interest groups are involved in tree wardens, community forestry etc.
Community arboriculture could be a good theme for the day.
Wangari Maathai would be a good name to start with! I have never heard her speak but I would be interested to!
You might want to consider a talk on international tree fodder (from Nepal and SE Asia and from Africa) as it links into the use of pollards, veteran trees and their history in terms of seasonal management of livestock. I would be happy to undertake this, but it would be dependent on work undertaken some years ago
Comment by Jon Heuch — 7 February 2009 @ 1:30 pm
I am glad to see the next seminars are on their way, climate proofing part 2 is of interest and if I was going to just one of these it would be this one. The others seem to be on the fringes of arboriculture, a feeling of running before we can walk.
If I was going to invest my time and money into an international problem it would be in south america, and the Amazon rain forest. After all, as far as trees abroad are concerned this has to be the major priority at this time?
From my personal point of view, with regards to projects in africa, Isreal and palestine this seems to be more politicaly and kudos motivated, but appreciate its purpose.
Personaly I am going to die trying to save the planet, not the cause of its imbalance/demise, and medicine is for the doctors to figure out.
if the seminars go off in this direction it will become an elite event of highbrows, and that would be a major loss to U.K arboriculture, but certain it will increase your funding and sponsorship!
just some food for thought.
Comment by antony croft — 9 February 2009 @ 8:20 pm
Looking at the list of conferences planned for 2009/2010 I am disappointed at the negative way in which utilities are portrayed. While it is true that in the early 1990s, when cable TV was made available some damage was done to roots. However, given that the work of Professor Chris Baines and others has led to a National Code of Practice, i.e. NJUG4 (formerly NJUG10, this is now a thing of the past. All major utilities take their responsibilities in respect of trees and the environment seriously. The sunscribers to and readers of this fourm should be aware of the statutory obligations placed upon utilities to deliver supplies safely and efficiently and that they are required to put in place and maintain proactive programmes of tree cutting. All work is done to the highest possible standards and it is not in the utilities interest to do anything other than that. To say that they have made vast profits from tree cutting is misleading. Tree cutting is a substantial financial burden on the utilities.
Dealga O’Callaghan
Comment by Dealga O'Callaghan — 2 March 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Dealga O’callaghan, The fact is ive witnessed many utilities being installed especialy when the cable (fibre optics) went in, at the time the biggest contract won in the u.k. The problem lies in the fact that most of the guys digging the lines are self employed or on bonus schemes, the more they lay the more they earn. this is a typical setup up in this sort of contract work, and through many industries including L.A/council contracts. These guys do not hang around, they get the job done and are rarely supervised intensivley. Roots get cut, and regulary, its a fact. Its always hard to hear ones own group being judged, I know all too well. Poeple tend to notice the negatives and great work is hardly ever noticed! sad but true. until there is more incentive to do things right rather than the current culture of reward for corners cut across all sectors there will always be judgments to be made, and rightly so.
Comment by antony croft — 26 March 2009 @ 7:47 pm
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
Comment by RaiulBaztepo — 29 March 2009 @ 2:06 am
I would like to attended the Second conference, which I believe to be exceelent in all respects I look forward to participate in Part2 with eager anticipation to the program
Comment by Raju Aryal — 2 May 2009 @ 8:22 pm
I am glad to hear that is a conference like this. its going to be best conference i ever heard so far.
I will even like to send some of my staff to attend the next one and i will like to know if the chance is open for interantional level and the necessary steps to take.
thanks
Comment by Johnson Olalekan Ojo — 21 September 2009 @ 9:17 am