City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/22884
Partners Updates State Coordinators Canopy Conference Earns A+ from Campus Arborists by Susan Granbery, Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator, Georgia Forestry Commission Emory University is a proud Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA • Photo Courtesy Emory University W hen it comes to choosing a college to attend or visit, having a beautiful, tree-lined campus is a plus for any student, faculty member, or parent. Large-grow- ing trees create welcoming vistas and atmospheres. They provide shady places to spread a blanket and study, and they’re an invitation to browse for the perfect college game day t-shirt in downtown shopping districts. Not only do trees beautify local neighborhoods for off- campus students and faculty, they help keep the air and water clean and prevent soil erosion and stormwater runoff. On campus, trees shade sidewalks and parking lots, making the stroll to class cooler and more pleas- ant. And much like the affection we have for our beloved football teams, large shade trees instill a sense of pride in our community. To supply these much-needed environmental, social, and economic benefits, trees require the attention and care provided by a certified arborist. But not just anyone will do in this very important position. A campus arbor- ist, like the football team’s coach, must have a special set of skills, knowledge, and experience. He or she 16 must be able to take care of student and faculty needs and keep college administrators and parents informed and happy, while upping the score. Recently, the Georgia Urban Forest Council, in partner- ship with the Georgia Forestry Commission and spon- sors, offered the First Annual “College Tree Canopy Conference” designed specifically to address the needs of campus arborists and their staffs. The attendance was high and the response was overwhelmingly posi- tive. Now, picture a stadium full of fans on their feet! Held just after the start of the fall semester at Macon State College (MSC) in the heart of Georgia, the con- ference “kicked off” with networking and a tour of the college grounds by Derrick Catlett, a certified arborist in the grounds department. Like a quarterback to a football team, Derrick is instrumental to MSC’s urban forestry program. He helped find grant money to replace trees lost to a devastating tornado, and he created the campus GIS inventory. As a student working toward his own degree, Derrick relates well to the needs of MSC stu- City Trees