Former Prime
Minister Theresa May nnounced in June 2019 that the Climate Change Act will now
require the UK to be ‘net zero’ by 2050.
The Committee on
Climate Change has included the need for 30,000 hectares of trees to be planted
annually towards achieving this target.
The government’s
2017 manifesto called for 1 million trees to also be planted in our towns. In
the face of our present environmental and social challenges trees can make
significant contributions to some of the solutions required.
Trees, People and
the Built Environment 4 (TPBE4) is the fourth international, cross-disciplinary
urban tree research conference, with a focus on both research and practice, to
be held in the UK. It will encompass the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ (ICF)
annual national conference and is organised in partnership with up to 20
academic institutions.
Sharon
Hosegood FICFor, Vice President of the ICF and Managing Director of
arboricultural consultancy Sharon Hosegood Associates, said: “Never before has there been a greater need to
understand the multi-faceted benefits our urban trees provide. At a time of
increasing pressures, coupled with an increasing public awakening, it is time
to embrace new thinking, research, and to share best practice.
“Professor Cecil
Konijnendijk will chair the Trees and the Built Environment Conference 4, not
only to bring a global perspective and a wealth of experience, but, alongside
international experts, to help us help our urban trees.”
Professor
Konijnendijk has helped to develop an undergraduate degree in urban forestry at
the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, where he is
Professor of Urban Forestry. He studies, teaches and advises on the role of
trees and green space in cities and towns.
“Trees, People and
the Built Environment has become one of the world’s leading events for those of
us working with trees, forests, parks, and other vegetation in cities and
towns," he said. "I am delighted to chair the fourth edition of this
important conference.”
The
International Urban Trees Research Conference takes place on 23-24 April 2020, at the University of Birmingham.
