The Call for Papers for major international urban trees research conference Trees, People and the Built Environment II (TPBEII) has now closed, with submissions from a record number of countries and a guarantee from the conference partners of a world-class programme. In addition, five renowned organisations have been secured as headline sponsors in a move that reaffirms the position of the conference as the premier event for professionals working with trees and green infrastructure in the built environment.
The headline sponsors for TPBEII are: Civic Trees, who have been supplying, handling, planting and relocating mature and semi mature trees since 1963; Deep Root, a leading urban landscape products and ecosystem services supplier; the Forestry Commission, the government department responsible for the protection and expansion of England and Scotland’s forests; Lend Lease, an international leader in property and infrastructure; and Myerscough College, one of the leading UK establishments for higher education in arboriculture and urban forestry.
From national to international, academic to commercial, all the conference sponsors are united in their recognition of the significance benefits our urban forests bring, whether socially, economically or environmentally. Sustainability is also at the core of the work they do, and so too is their ultimate goal to help our green spaces flourish and make our towns and cities healthier, happier and more liveable places to be.
Chair of the Conference Steering Group Dr Mark Johnston MBE commented:
“The huge success of the ‘Call for Papers’ is a tribute to the outstanding work of the members of the Steering Group and others who ensured that this went all around the world. We received almost 100 submissions from 27 countries, embracing all corners of the globe. Competition for slots at the conference is therefore intense but we can therefore guarantee a truly world-class programme, and some very high calibre speakers. They will join our headline speakers: Sir Terry Farrell CBE, one of the UK’s leading architect planners; Professor Timothy Beatley, Professor of Sustainable Communities at the University of Virginia; and Professor Herbert Girardet, co-founder of the World Future Council.”
Dr Johnston also acknowledged the significant support offered by the headline sponsors, saying:
“We are also delighted to welcome on board our fantastic line-up of headline sponsors. The calibre and standing of these organisations shows the regard with which TPBEII is held internationally. The range of organisations that are supporting the event also recognises the diversity of those concerned with the management and development of the urban forest. Our sponsors highlight perfectly the whole ethos of the conference in bringing together natural and built environment professionals to ensure an integrated approach, allowing us all to work together to ensure a vibrant, greener and more sustainable future for our urban communities and our urban trees.”
TPBEII is a pan-industry partnership initiative between over 20 organisations representing professionals within the greenspace and built environment sectors. It is hosted by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) as its 2014 National Conference and takes place 2-3 April, 2014 in Birmingham, UK.
The previous, and inaugural, TPBE conference took place in 2011. This time over 400 delegates are expected to attend this two-day event, bringing together tree professionals, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, architects, planners, ecologists and conservationists. Once again it looks set to be one of the largest urban tree conferences ever held in Britain.
Booking for the conference will open later in November 2013.
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TPBE II conference partners: The Arboricultural Association, Ancient Tree Forum, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Forest Research, Forestry Commission, Institute of Chartered Foresters, Institution of Civil Engineers, International Society of Arboriculture (UK & I Chapter), Landscape Institute, London Tree Officers Association, Municipal Tree Officers Association, Myerscough College, National Association of Tree Officers, Natural England, Royal Institute of British Architects, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Trees and Design Action Group, University of Birmingham, University of Manchester, Utility Arboriculture Group. Consultative supporters: English Heritage, Green Infrastructure Partnership, Royal Town Planning Institute
Conference host: The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) is incorporated by Royal Charter as the only professional body in the UK to award chartered status to those working in forestry and arboriculture. The ICF regulates the standards of entry to forestry and arboriculture and offers professional qualifications to promote expertise in the tree and woodland management professions.
Headline Sponsors:
Civic Trees
Civic Trees has been supplying, handling, planting and relocating mature and semi mature trees since 1963. Working on prestigious European landscape developments such as screening the Berlin Wall, emphasising the approaches to Disneyland Paris and re-developing London’s Trafalgar Square, Civic Trees is trusted by architects, designers, contractors and specifiers to offer attractive, sustainable and cost-effective solutions for tree planting schemes. With unrivalled expertise in urban tree planting, the company creates, installs and retro-fits contemporary, safe and stylish tree pits with minimum disruption. Civic Trees is part of Glendale Managed Services, for the total management and maintenance of the green environment
Deep Root
A leading urban landscape products and ecosystem services supplier, Deep Root’s mission is to create a more liveable built environment and healthy, thriving urban spaces. Headquartered in California with locations in Vancouver, Canada, and London, UK, this landscape innovator, develops solutions to enhance urban forests and surrounding watersheds and has more than forty years of experience helping trees thrive in cities. They believe in integrating our urban areas with the natural world and that healthy, long-living urban trees are at the core of this effort and the foundations of healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities.
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible for the protection and expansion of England and Scotland forests and woodlands. Urban forestry is now firmly established as a key focus of forestry policy and management in Britain. Rising levels of inequality, persistent under-development within deprived urban communities, and the need for viable responses to the pressures of climate change are all seen as problems where urban forestry can make an important and positive contribution. Research being undertaken by The Forestry Commission’s Social and Economic Research Group (SERG) is helping to shape urban forestry responses to such important challenges.
Lend Lease
Lend Lease, is an international leader in property and infrastructure, employing more than 18,000 people worldwide and managing an extensive portfolio of assets. It is estimated that every day over a million people live, work, shop or are connected through an asset Lend Lease has created. The principles of sustainability have always defined the way Lend Lease does business and their approach is grounded by sustainability aspirations across environmental, social and economic categories, protecting the natural environment, supporting responsible economic growth and improving the quality of people’s lives.
Myerscough College
Myerscough College is at the forefront of developments in arboriculture and is regarded by many as the leading UK establishment for higher education in the subject. Myerscough College provided the UK’s first Foundation Degree and the first Honours Degree in Arboriculture and went on to develop the first online degrees and, most recently, the first Masters Degree in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. It continues to set the international standard for higher education in arboriculture, with many graduates going on to make significant contributions to the industry.
