The Community Forestry Institute equips municipal shade tree commissions and committees, as well as staff such as managers, arborists, and foresters, along with community tree advocates and volunteers, with the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective management of public trees in Pennsylvania.

 Participants will have the opportunity to attend live, online sessions each Monday and Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Those unable to join live will be able to view recordings of the sessions at their convenience. A certificate of attendance will be awarded upon request to those who complete all six sessions in real time.

 Optional homework exercises will allow participants to begin developing a basic framework for a community tree plan tailored to their municipality. Participants who choose to complete these exercises will have the option to submit their plans for review by the course instructors and receive individualized feedback. A follow-up webinar, scheduled for early December, will serve as a workshop in which participants can share and discuss their community tree plans and receive additional insights and ideas from fellow attendees.

 Who is this for?

• Municipal shade tree commission or committee members, and environmental advisory council members
• Municipal arborists, foresters, managers, and other staff
• Community tree advocates and volunteers

What will you learn?

• The role of shade tree commissions
• Street tree and other environmental ordinances for managing public trees
• The role of tree inventories and urban tree canopy assessments
• How to develop a community forestry plan
• Managing sidewalk and other conflicts with trees
• Managing tree risk
• How community trees serve as green infrastructure
• How to work within your community, develop community partnerships, and raise funds to support public trees

 Earn Credits

• ISA certified arborists: 12 CEUs (two credits per webinar)

This program is supported by the USDA Forest Service and the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry.

Space is limited - preregistration is required.

 For More Information and to Register - https://extension.psu.edu/community-forestry-institute

 There are limited scholarships available for those attending as representatives from a resource-stressed municipality (shade tree commissioners).   To inquire about the scholarships, reach out to Brian Wolyniak via email (bjw229@psu.edu