The i-Tree Open Academy will provide a broad introduction to the i-Tree suite of tools. This is a virtual opportunity for anyone interested in better understanding the benefits of trees and exploring the latest i-Tree has to offer. There is no fee for the Academy, and you can join all live sessions or select those that meet your schedule and interests. The academy starts on May 7.

Online Webinar

This webinar delves into wildfire mitigation, pre-planning, and best practices for incorporating wildfire risk into urban forest management plans. Experts from forestry, fire management, and community engagement will share proactive strategies, including fire-resistant landscaping, community education, and collaborative wildfire mitigation projects across jurisdictions.

Live in-Person at Witherbee Auditorium at the L.A. Zoo and Online Webinar

Ruth Borun Lecture Series featuring: Amy Stewart. The Southern California Horticultural Society is pleased to welcome New York Times best-selling author Amy Stewart as our guest lecturer for 2025. Her popular non-fiction titles about the natural world include The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants, as well as her latest book, The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession, which will be her featured topic for this program.

12:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Online Webinar

Join us for an in-depth discussion on post-fire recovery and restoration, focusing on erosion control, stabilization, funding opportunities, and reforestation strategies. In this one-hour webinar, industry experts will share critical insights, real-world case studies, and innovative approaches to building fire-resilient landscapes and communities.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

3:00 p.m.
Online Webinar

CAL FIRE's Urban and Community Forestry Program recently announced the release of the California Urban Tree Canopy Viewer in partnership with the USDA Forest Service.

What the Mapping Tool Does:

Learn more about the release by attending CAL FIRE’s Urban Tree Canopy Viewer Introductory Webinar on May 22nd.

Cabling trees and providing other forms of supplemental tree support may sometimes be...controversial. Some like it. Some hate it. Nick Araya LOVES it.

 

At this roundtable, Nick will give a short presentation on examples of where his company TreeCareLA uses steel or dynamic cables and the preferred cabling systems they use. He'll discuss why NOT to use the "cradle" technique for building tree support props. He'll also cover the pros and cons of bolting unions and cracked limbs with steel. Nick's short presentation will be followed by what will surely be a lively Q&A session. Whether you're an experienced pro who wants to weigh in on the discussion or a novice to tree support systems who wants to learn what the hype is all about, come join this roundtable!

This talk provides resources to green industry professionals on how to persuade denying politicians and budget makers. Avoid talking about the big-picture benefits, the niceties, or the ideological concepts that seem decorative and nonessential to these non-believers. Instead, talk directly about tax dollars, a thing they definitely care about. It is two-fold: How do trees save money? And how do trees generate more tax revenue? All the topics we will discuss can be directly connected to line items in a government budget book. If you can directly connect the benefits of trees with a line item in the budget, you will be surprised! 1 CEU/PDH approved by ISA, LACES, MoGIA. Pending 1 CEU from PGMS, CBLP.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PDT)
Online Event

In this brief presentation Jan will share information on a number of common urban California pines. Pine identification can be challenging as there are several “look-alikes” around the region. This talk was initially designed to help resolve those issues back in 2015 but let’s just have some fun! Maybe, if we have time, we’ll even discuss a few non-urban (native) species.

 

Get your gear shined up and head out to William Land Regional Park in Sacramento, CA. 2024 Chapter Champions, Jacob Claasson and Kate Miller are ready to defend their titles as Western Chapter ISA Tree Climbing Champions!

June 10, 2025 - Disease Training

San Bernardino, CA

Join us for an essential two-day seminar designed for professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts invested in the health and sustainability of urban forests. This training delves into the intricate interactions between trees, pests, and environmental changes, equipping attendees with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage and protect urban ecosystems.

5:00 p.m. (PDT)
Online Event

This talk will introduce how ArcGIS can help harness the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to help arborists manage our communities’ natural assets. We’ll delve into how ArcGIS can be used to manage data, collect field measurements, calculate attributes, and display visual information to your clients in new and exciting ways. Learn how ArcGIS can make your tree inventory not only informative but engaging, enabling informed decision-making that supports sustainable urban development.

WESTERN CHAPTER INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE  

Arboriculture for the "More-Than-Human" World

June 20, 2025
Colma, CA

 

This regional conference will offer a day of immersive learning opportunities to explore the value that trees provide to the many beings that call the urban forest home! Wildlife habitat value of mature, dead, and dying trees, and the benefits of safely preserving spars, snags, and nurse logs in the landscape will be discussed, as well as the diverse potential of wood reclamation to give trees a second life, which has been demonstrated throughout the grounds of Cypress Lawn Arboretum in recent seasons. An afternoon of in situ demonstrations for the proactive habitat tree service practices of coronet pruning and nest cavity carving will take place out in the field, and the program day will conclude with an optional guided forest bathing experience to foster a deeper connection with the more-than-human world that lives and grows all around us.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
5:00 p.m. (PDT)
Online Event

Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT can assist consulting arborists by improving reports, automating workflows, and streamlining business operations. This session highlights practical AI applications in arboriculture and business, focusing on both the benefits and the effort required to get meaningful results.

July 24 - 25, 2025
Berkeley, CA

Dive into the innovative Miyawaki Method for creating thriving micro forests and hear from expert speakers sharing cutting-edge insights.

From entry level to advanced, this program will offer information and training to all levels. The participants will learn the latest innovative techniques from skilled and qualified climbers

 

 

This workshop will provide tree care professionals with affordable hands-on training. Led by Fred Frey of Vintage tree care and a cadre of volunteer instructors who have numerous years of field and competition experience.

CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY (CNRA)

2025 Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has released the grant guidelines for the 2025 Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP). The application period will likely open in late April and be open for 60 days.

 

The EEMP grant program seeks projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified public transportation facilities. Urban Forestry is an eligible project activity for the EEMP grants. For full details, refer to the Grant Guidelines (.pdf).

 

Local, state, and federal agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities may apply for and receive grants. Federally recognized Native American tribes are eligible as local agencies.

 

A total of $8 million is available for the 2025 funding cycle

 

Stay informed! Sign up for CNRA’s Bonds and Grants LISTSERV to receive updates on EEMP opportunities.

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE

Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) recently announced a new funding opportunity called the Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program.  SFI’s Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program is designed to help organizations benchmark their urban or community forests against the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. These grants support the assessment of current management practices, offering valuable insights into how sustainably these forests are managed, as well as a roadmap of opportunities for improvement.

The application process is open on a rolling basis until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on May 30, 2027, or until all funds are awarded.

Canopy, based in Palo Alto, is hiring:

Friends of the Urban Forest, based in San Francisco is hiring:

Los Angeles Neighborhood  Initiative, based in Los Angeles is hiring:

TreePeople, based in Los Angeles, is hiring:

Watsonville Wetlands Watch, based in Watsonville, is hiring:

Our City Forest, based in San Jose, is hiring:

Vandal uses chainsaw to cut down trees along several downtown LA streets

An alleged vandal who was armed with a chainsaw cut down several trees along downtown Los Angeles streets over the weekend.  Read more.

2024 National Census for Municipal Urban Forestry

Are you the tree manager for your city, town, or community? If so, please fill out the 2024 National Census for Municipal Urban Forestry. If multiple people manage your community’s trees, please coordinate a single response. The results of this important census are the basis for reports such as “Municipal Tree Care and Management in the United States: A 2014 Urban & Community Forestry Census of Tree Activities”.

Exciting news! The 3+30+300 Principle Handbook produced by the Yggdrasil - The Living Nordic City project, is now available for free download. The handbook gives you step-by-step information on using the 3+30+300 Rule. It also provides answers to frequently asked questions.  Download here.

Post-Fire Restoration and Recovery Manual for Western Urban Forests

A DRAFT of the  “Post-Fire Restoration and Recovery Manual for Western Urban Forests” has been posted to CAL FIRE’s UCF Homepage under a new drop down menu item titled “Urban Forestry and Fire Recovery.” This 100+ page document, by UCANR and the Pacific Southwest Research Station, edited by Igor Lacan, Francisco J Escobedo, and Alyssa S Thomas, is a great new resource for California and all western urban forests. The document is expected to be published by UC Extension soon, and in the meantime, download the DRAFT (in pdf format) here.

Certified Urban and Community Forester Credential

Society of American Forester's partnership with the California Urban Forests Council sprouted the future of this credential for professionals across the map. Together we had a vision for professionals in the urban and community forestry space, and now we are making strides to offer this certification to the workforce. The "Certified Urban and Community Forester" credential promotes the holistic nature of urban and community forestry that's focused on resource conservation across the canopy intersected with the complex and dynamic infrastructure and stakeholder ecosystem. Learn More on the Society of American Foresters website and in this article, Certified Urban and Community Forester Credential Aims to Elevate the Profession and Grow SAF by Eric Wiseman, PhD.