MUFC - Mississippi Urban Forest Council

Membership

$Description: C:\Users\Donna\Documents\DMR project\leave_it_better_FINAL.jpg$ Registration Form (PDF Here: for printing)
February 7 & 8, 2012
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Jackson, MS
Tuesday & Wednesday 9AM- 4PM
The focus of this year’s 21st annual conference is creating healthy communities. The focus is on three areas of interest: 1. Knowing the evidence of how green spaces and community forests impacts human and social environments,
2. Preparing your home or community for the next storm,
3. Creating community and individual gardens, parks and orchards.
Through a variety of progressive green practices you will learn ways to improve your community, your backyard, local housing, business and commercial areas. Learn how to create better places with proven methods to enhance the health of not only the community but its citizens. Learn about partnerships, funding and other resources to implement projects. Learn about effective planning and collaboration to get the job done. Over 20 of the best speakers from around the state and nation will gather to share their wealth of knowledge and experience on a variety of timely topics.
Full Agenda available by request at dyowell@aol.com

Topics for the event include:
Green Communities-Good Health
Community Gardens, Orchards, Parks and Green Spaces
Collaboration and Local Green Teams
Grants and Other Valuable Resources
Storm Preparedness and Mitigation
Better Green Policy Development
Policies and Funding That Works
Resiliency and Sustainable Crisis Recovery
Planning Through Partnerships
Newest Approaches to Community Based Green Infrastructure
Creating A Community Forestry Legacy
Comprehensive Planning for Ecological Conservation

Keynote Speakers
Green Communities - Good Health
Dr. Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington

Community greening benefits can be the basis for better partnerships with planners and public health professionals. There is extensive scientific knowledge about the health benefits of the human experience of nature. A project has summarized the extensive evidence of extensive socio-cultural benefits, and shares this information in series of summaries to help you. We will build on this resource to present guidelines for community planning that enhances nature based human health, well-being and economic success.

Dr. Kathleen Wolf is the nation’s foremost research social scientist, located at the College of the Environment, University of Washington. She has a joint appointment with the USDA Forest Service to help develop the Green Cities Research Alliance. Kathy’s research mission is to discover, understand, and communicate human behavior and benefits.

Comprehensive Planning for Ecological Conservation
Eric Bridges, Planner, City of Lakeland, TN

By utilizing a natural resources management staff as part of community development and growth management, conservation can be achieved during the inevitable growth process. The role of a professional forester or other natural resources manager in relation to land-use planners, landscape architects, engineers, parks & recreation staff and the general public will be the focus of this presentation. This presentation will describe how a small rural community under tremendous growth pressure is utilizing conservation of natural resources as a tool for growth management and the challenges and opportunities this approach presents to the natural resources manager, the planning commission, the City staff, and the citizens of the community.

Developing Effective Local Tree Policy and Sustainable Crisis Recovery
SHURTZ, ASLA, PLA, ISA
URBAN FORESTRY & LANDSCAPE MANAGER
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
CITY OF BATON ROUGE

This presentation will explain how to plan for and recover from an urban forestry disaster. It will also examine some creative ways of approaching debris management, and saving your community money in the process. STEPHEN A.
Steve Shurtz is Urban Forestry and Landscape Manager for the East Baton Rouge City-Parish Department of Public Works. A registered Landscape Architect and ISA Certified Arborist, he has over 30 years experience in municipal landscape design and urban forestry management. Steve has twice served as president of the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA), is a past president of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), was recently elected to the national Board of Trustees of the ASLA, is currently President of the Louisiana Urban Forestry Council and recently completed his second term as a member of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). Since 1978, Steve has maintained a private landscape design practice, Stephen A. Shurtz, ASLA, Landscape Architect, in Baton Rouge.
Also, how to fund a forestry program on a city budget. This program will explore how a community can create a successful and growing urban forestry program with minimal funding and staffing. We will discuss creative ways to build public and administrative support for your program in tough economic times.
Risk Management and Community Tree Assessments(Part 1 and 2)
Dudley R. Hartel, Center Manager,
Urban Forestry South, SRS-4952 Integrating Human & Natural Systems, Athens, Georgia 30602

A discussion of a comprehensive risk management programs that can better support local management & disaster planning. Urban Forestry South is the Southern Region’s urban & community forestry Technology Transfer Center which supports U&CF programs through state agencies and municipalities. This presentation will cover 10 steps outlined for better storm preparedness and mitigation.

Continuing Education Hours:
Elected officials, planners, foresters, arborist, parks & recreation, engineers, Master Gardeners, landscape architects, planners, Urban Forest Masters and others.

Registration Form (PDF Here: for printing)
February 7th & 8th, 2012
Description: swing Name:_____________________________________________________________________
Company/Organization_________________________________________________________
Phone________________________E-mail________________________________________
Please check appropriate fee option(s):
Full Registration (7th-8th)                                                                $95.00_____
Full Registration for MUFC Members                                      $75.00_____
MS Urban Forest Council Membership                                   $25.00 _____
Exhibitor (7th-8th)                                                                            $250.00_____
           Students                                                                                            $25.00_____
                                           Celebration of Trees, US Tree City Awards (7th)                $20.00_____
                                                (6:30PM-Fondren Trolley Ride to Event)
                                          Sponsors for Coffee Breaks and Picnic Lunches                   Any______
     Total:               __________

Mail this form with a check or P.O. to: Mississippi Urban Forest Council, 164 Trace Cove Drive, Madison,
Mississippi 39110 (You may also request billing or pay at the door)

Host Hotel:
Cabot Lodge North – 601-326-0741
$94.00 Rate includes Full Breakfast and Evening Cocktail Hour. Book before 1/23/2012.

Invitation to Nominate for Award:
Awards Event- February 7, 2012
Pan Asia Restaurant 6:30 PM
Each year the Mississippi Urban Forest Council, in partnership with the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the USDA Forest Service recognizes and honors cities, businesses, civic groups, schools and others that have demonstrated success with community forestry and green infrastructure. We invite you to submit a nomination for the upcoming 2012 awards ceremony. This is a great way to promote locally driven work in your community.   Nomination deadline is January 15, 2012 and should be submitted via email.
Award Categories:
Local Government:                                              A. < 20,000 pop.                                                 B. > 20,000 pop.
Tree City, USA                                                   Individual                                                            Urban Forest Master
Youth Group                                                      Reforesting Award                                               Scenic Community of MS
Civic Organization                                              Certified Urban Forests                                        “Green” Mayor Award
Dedicated Communication                                  Partnership Award                                               Professional Urban Forester
Life Time Achievement                                       Commercial Development                                     Seedling Youth Award
How to Nominate:
Submit a one page summary with local press and photos supporting the work involved. Include all contact information. Submit to Donna Yowell at dyowell@aol.com or mail to 164 Trace Cove Drive, Madison, MS 39110. For more information call Donna at (601)672-0755.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission and Mississippi Urban Forest Council do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in employment or provision of services.

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