On the 5 & 6 April world experts in arboriculture, urban planning, urban forestry, public health, ecology, research and engineering, will congregate in Birmingham for an International Conference on the latest research and practices surrounding the environmental, social, and economic benefits of urban trees.
The Trees, People and the Built Environment 3 Conference (TPBE3) will be significant in demonstrating the considerable benefits that trees bring to our urban futures in the 21st century, and provide an important platform for collaboration between professions.
The conference will focus on the greater integration of trees into our transport systems and the benefits they have on human health. By looking at success stories from around the world, experts will demonstrate how innovative planning focused on greenspace in our cities can improve traffic infrastructure and sustain the health of communities and people.
Dr Ian Buchanan (Manager, Natural Heritage and Forestry, Regional Municipality of York, Canada) explains: “The integration of trees into large scale capital road projects is vital but such works have space demands and budget priorities which are often in conflict” As James Urban (Urban Trees and Soils, USA) agrees: “Designers, ecologists, soil and tree experts and engineers often work on the same projects with little communication or understanding of how one consultant’s work impacts on other goals TPBE3 Will bring together a wide range of requirements to enable the compromises and changes needed to build sustainable streetscapes that support all the required urban infrastructure from trees to storm water to transport”
To further emphasise the influence of trees on public wellbeing. Dr Ann Marie Connolly from Public Health England will be lending weight to the day 2 discussions on the ‘Health Benefits of Urban Trees’
Peter Duinker, Dalhousie University, Canada notes that “Trees in the city are vital contributors to human welfare in health, economic, social, and environmental terms. With well over 80% of us living in urban settings, it is clear to me that many urban dwellers will get their only experiences and benefits of trees in those settings”.
The 2011 and 2014 conference was praised for its quality of content and pioneering aim of bringing together a diverse group of professionals. As esteemed UK based architect Sue James explains “if we are to have more urban trees and properly benefit from them, it’s vital that we embrace a cross-sector, cross- disciplinary approach for all built environment professionals including health professionals, civil engineers, architects and landscapers”
TPBE3 is hosted and organised by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) on behalf of a group of partner organisations. For further information and booking visit: www.charteredforesters.org/tbpe3
