Description:
Date and Time:
Wednesday, December 7, 2022 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Webinar Description:
Deforestation is not a word we typically associate with urban forests. Recent studies have also shown urban tree canopy declining in many U.S. cities. The levels of tree loss also tend to be higher particularly in single-family residential zoned neighborhoods. Urban tree loss is often simply blamed on urbanization, population densification and new development. However, it might not be as simple as that and many other factors might be to blame such as politics, landowner rights, and the tree industry itself. Additional contributors are climate change and a general lack of understanding of who is responsible for monitoring and acting on preserving this critical urban resource that is both publicly and privately owned and managed.
Strategically planned and systematic urban forestry management can mitigate urban tree loss. It can also build resource resilience and maximize ecosystem services in an economically responsible manner. This presentation will explore how the critical challenge of urban forest sustainability is being approached by the City of Santa Monica in California. It will also discuss many of the factors driving urban deforestation and identify possible ways to mitigate them.
Attendees at this presentation will increase their knowledge of how urban forest sustainability can be delivered through strategic planning, community partnership and the timely tracking of key metrics. They will also learn about the factors driving urban deforestation.
Presenter Biography:
Matthew Wells is the Public Landscape Manager for the coastal City of Santa Monica in Southern California. Santa Monica strives to be a beacon of sustainable local government. Prior to this role, Matthew served as the Director of Tree Preservation for NYC Parks, an Arboricultural Officer for the London Borough of Camden, and a Tree Surgeon in his local English village. As a Chartered Forester with a master’s degree in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, he has a unique international experience of urban forestry. Matthew has presented at conferences globally and is passionate about research driven resource management.
Registration:
$25.00 - WCISA Membership
$35.00 - Non-WCISA Membership
Students please call our office at 866.785.8960
CEUs:
1.5 - CA / CTW / MS
1.5 - BCMA-P
Registration:
https://wcisa.net/meeting/6986