Attractive and well-maintained public trees are indispensable contributors to a community's quality of life. But the urban forest, like the rest of our community infrastructure, requires protection and care to provide the maximum benefit. Having a knowledgeable and committed group of residents serving on a municipal tree commission is the best way to assure that public trees receive proper maintenance and are not indiscriminately damaged or removed, according to Mark Remchek, Penn State Cooperative Extension urban forester.
To provide the training required to be an effective tree-commission member, Penn State Extension is partnering with several other organizations to offer the Community Tree Management Institute, May 20 to 21, at Penn State New Kensington.
"Healthy and sustainable urban forests provide many environmental, economic and social benefits to our communities," Remchek said. "They intercept millions of gallons of rainwater, reduce energy costs, attract businesses, tourists and residents, increase real estate values, and even have been shown to reduce crime and violence."
The institute will cover such topics as enacting a municipal tree ordinance, contracting tree work, working with the media and planning for trees.
Registration is required by May 10. The registration fee of $85 includes lunch, breaks and materials (including landscape tree factsheets, a $30 value). For more information or to register, contact Mark Remcheck at 412-473-2540 or by e-mail at mar15@psu.edu.