Heather Leff

As the 2019 Annual Conference fades into memory, we thank all who came and supported the association. If you were there, you know that this conference set yet another record for attendance, great student turnout, and a robust presence of exhibitors! The speaker lineup was a strong one, with varied programs that offered plentiful arborist, landscaper, and safety-specific credits. Another highlight was the awards ceremony. Congratulations to Richard Parasiliti, City of Northampton, who received the Tree Warden of the Year Award, and to Mollie Freilicher, Mass. DCR Urban & Community Forestry, who received the President’s Award for her initiative and major support to make the Qualified Tree Warden program become a reality in 2018. Stay tuned for photos!

Researchers at UMass Amherst are conducting an ongoing study on commonalities between street trees planted in municipalities around the globe.  Dr. Brian Kane, Mass. Arborists Association Professor of Arboriculture, and Dr. Bethany Bradley, Associate Professor of Biogeography, are collecting data from around the globe and would like to see Massachusetts represented in this survey.  Please help them out by completing this short ~3 minute survey.

Massachusetts DCR has made available the 2018 results of their annual Forest Health Survey. View 2018 Aerial Survey map, as well as the list of the Aerial Survey Acreage Totals 2018, detailed by county.

Registration is now open for Establishing Trees in the Urban Environment, the next event in MTWFA’s popular Professional Development Series (PDS).  Plan now for an educational field trip to western Mass. in the beautiful fall foliage season!  Register here online. To view the agenda or to register by mail, download and print the brochure.

Every two years, UMass Extension offers its popular Green School, a comprehensive 12-day certificate short course for Green Industry professionals taught by UMass Extension Specialists and University of Massachusetts faculty. This course will not be offered again until 2020.

Designed for landscapers, lawn care specialists, nursery operators, sports field managers, public and private grounds managers, arborists and others in the green industry, our comprehensive course is for horticultural professionals who want to gain an understanding of economically feasible and environmentally responsible plant and land care practices and the relation of those practices to protecting the environment. Both experienced professionals as well as those entering the green industries will benefit from this course. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, AS SPACE IS LIMITED!  ag.umass.edu/landscape/education/umass-extensions-green-school