City Trees

Thank you to the Forestry Alumni Association for this invitation. C ongratulations to the graduating Class of 2017. I recall some of my feelings from 35 years ago, when my BSc.F Class of 1982 was also approaching graduation from this Faculty. Mainly I felt relief. Like you, we too were filled with enthusiasm about the future. Within five years of graduation, I landed my dream job: urban forester for the Town of Oakville, Ontario. There, I was responsible for the urban forestry program for 30 years before realizing my current dream job: my own consulting company. I appreciate the knowledge gained at the Faculty of Forestry. Tree physiology, tree biology, and tree morphol- ogy: as much as these courses may have seemed painful at the time, they helped me in my career. However, with 35 years of hindsight, I've come to realize that there was one course I wish the Faculty had offered. I call this course "Tree Politics." Fortunately, I found a course in Tree Politics through the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA), a professional affiliate of the International Society of Arboriculture for municipal foresters. In 2006, SMA developed a Leadership Training Program called the Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI). MFI is based on the premise that the experienced urban forester has suffi- cient knowledge about trees. What they need to learn about is in a different field of study: leadership, strategic thinking, and communications. Why? Because as a lead- er in urban forestry, we are in a position to influence the decision-making process; this is vital in order to advance the urban forestry program forward in our organization. A course in Tree Politics can help. Tonight, I'd like to give you an introduction to Tree Politics right out of the curriculum of the Municipal Forestry Institute's Leadership Training Program where I serve along with other veteran SMA members as part of the instructional team or the "Teaching Cadre," as we are also called. Just like at MFI, first we'll cover some of the key traits of leadership. Then we'll cover some of the key tools leaders need to utilize. Next we'll visit some of the places where we are commonly applying these tools. And along the way, we'll meet some great people who I think are effective leaders in urban forestry. My objective tonight is to inspire you to seek out more knowledge on the subject of Tree Politics and to place attending MFI on your "must-do" list. How many of you feel that you are engaged in politics as a normal course of your day? At MFI, we describe politics as "a process observed in all human group interaction by which groups make decisions, including activism on behalf of specific issues or causes." Given your education and interest in trees, you should recognize that you are already engaged in politics—the An Address to the Masters in Forest Conservation Class of 2017 at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto By John McNeil, R.P.F., ISA Certified Municipal Specialist, and Managing Principal of McNeil Urban Forestry Inc. 16 CityTREES

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