Texas Trees Foundation, a Dallas-based non-profit, will host Designing Tree Focused Resilient Communities, the first annual summer conference series to inform and educate about innovative new design elements and strategies to better integrate green infrastructure, especially trees, into economic development. The first annual conference series kicks off on August 23, 2013 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eisemann Center in the Bank of America Hall.
Keynote speaker James Urban, who is a nationally recognized author and leader in urban design, will speak about designing urban environments that allow trees to thrive in difficult North Texas conditions. Urban's book, “Up By Roots: Healthy Trees and Soils in the Built Environment” has become one of the principle resources for creating sustainable resilient communities using trees.
“As North Texas continues to grow, it’s becoming critical to incorporate green infrastructure, especially trees, in our growing urban areas. This is why the Texas Trees Foundation is launching a conference series focused on urban design,” said Janette Monear, Texas Trees Foundation president. “We are incredibly fortunate to have leader in urban design, James Urban as a the keynote speaker for our first annual series.”
Additional speakers for the conference include Dr. Fouad Jaber of Texas A&M University, Alan Hoffmann, owner of Alan Hoffmann Company, a sustainable builder of residential and commercial properties and Matt Grubisich, Texas Trees Foundation urban forester. Tickets can be purchase at www.texastrees.org for $75 and include a continental breakfast, hot lunch with all day beverages.
Conference sponsors include American Planning Association of Texas, Asavea, Deep Root, Lambert Landscaping, Locke Lord, Mineck Materials, Moore Tree Care, Southern Botanical, Southwest Wholesale Nursery, Turner Construction, Texas Chapter International Society of Agriculture, Trinity Backlands Urban Forestry Council and TXU Energy.
About Texas Trees Foundation:
Texas Trees Foundation is a non-profit group dedicated to creating healthy communities through tree planting, education and outreach. For more information, please visit www.texastrees.org.