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Clearing the Backlog: Managing the Growing Demand for Municipal Tree Services

October 24, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CDT

Join us for a UCFS Learning Series!

Urban foresters across the United States and Canada face an ever-growing workload and demand for critical tree maintenance services involving the removal of pruning, removals, and stumping. This increase is driven by greater public awareness, extreme weather, climate change, invasive species, development pressures, and growing or aging urban forests. These challenges highlight the critical need for operational excellence in urban forest management, especially given the constraints of finite resources and competing priorities.

The City of Mississauga, Canada’s seventh-largest city, has risen to this challenge with notable success. Within just six months, Mississauga cleared a two-year stumping backlog and launched an ambitious plan to clear the work order backlog and build capacity. Their strategy includes an innovative new tree maintenance contract, implementing a proactive tree maintenance program, streamlining workflows and processes, and improving customer experience using technology.

Join us for this insightful webinar as we explore the opportunities, challenges, tactics, and tools for managing the growing demand for municipal tree services. Learn from Mississauga’s experience and strategies to improve service delivery, enhance operational efficiency, and leverage technology in urban forest management. This session is a must for urban forestry professionals seeking to elevate their practices and achieve excellence in managing urban forests.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the growing demand for municipal tree services and key drivers, including the existing conditions, and constraints in administering maintenance programs.
  2. Identify best practices for operational excellence in urban forest management, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness.
  3. Implement technology to streamline workflows, enhance data management, and improve customer experience.

Approved for one ISA CEU.

Register today!

Details

Date:
October 24, 2024
Time:
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CDT

2025 UCFS Pre-Conference Tour

Climate Resilience Through Smarter Landscapes

Monday, November 17 from 1:00-4:00pm

To join us, add the tour with your registration!

Join the Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) and the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation for a half-day bus tour exploring how urban forestry practices are evolving to meet the challenges of a hotter, drier climate. This tour is designed for practitioners, planners, and policymakers interested in practical, replicable strategies for building climate-resilient urban landscapes with limited water resources.

Throughout the tour, we’ll explore how cities can proactively adapt to aridification by redesigning public spaces, rethinking irrigation systems, and collaborating across departments and with community partners. Expect a balance of big-picture strategy and actionable detail.

Featured Tour Stops and Highlights:

🌿 Turf Removal & Tree Replacement at Community Parks
See how traditional grass lawns are being replaced with water-smart landscapes by the City of Henderson. At one park site, learn how a communication challenge over tree removals evolved into a model of public engagement, resulting in more—and better—trees planted with long-term resilience in mind.

🦉 Bird Preserve and Partnership with Audubon Society
Explore a vibrant bird preserve developed through a partnership between the City of Henderson and the local Audubon Society. Discover how external collaborations can unlock funding (including grants) and expand habitat while boosting urban canopy goals.

🚧 Street Diet and Green Infrastructure
Visit a transformed urban street where pavement removal made way for tree planting pits and green infrastructure. This site demonstrates how every tree in Henderson is planted with a sustainable irrigation plan—and how all cities can innovate in the right-of-way.

💧 Irrigation Systems & Incentive Programs
Get practical insights on installing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems in challenging settings. Learn how internal and external partnerships (including with the Southern Nevada Water Authority) are creating incentives that drive real change toward water-wise tree planting and landscaping.

What You’ll Take Home:

  • Practical tips for managing urban forests with less water
  • Strategies for working across departments and building collaborative teams
  • Lessons from real-world partnerships with nonprofits, utilities, and the public
  • Inspiration to rethink green infrastructure in your community

Special Guests:

We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the, local Audubon Society, City of Henderson Sustainability Office and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, who will share insider perspectives on interagency collaboration and the mechanics of water incentive programs.