May 14-15, 2009
Washington, DC
Trees are essential to the health and livability of our nation's cities and towns. Cleaner air, greener streets, and healthier neighborhoods are crucial to the prosperity of the American economy. But lasting progress won't come without changes in domestic policy. Now is the time to harness the momentum of a new Congress and a new administration. In response, the Alliance for Community Trees organized the first annual Green Infrastructure Summit and Urban Trees Forum. The two days of Hill meetings and discussions took place at The Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. Presentations, recordings, and downloadable resources are now available.
Green Infrastructure Summit
May 14, 2009
8:40am: Welcome & Introduction (MP3)
Alice Ewen Walker, Executive Director, Alliance for Community Trees
Jared Liu, Director of Programs, Alliance for Community Trees
8:45am: Transportation & Water (MP3)
Moderator, Pamela Sapko, Executive Director, Delaware Center for Horticulture
Jim Catella, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Michael Castle (DE-At Large) (invited)
Lilly Shoup, Senior Research Associate, Transportation for America
Nancy Arazan, ORISE Fellow, Environmental Protection Agency
9:45am: Healthy Communities (MP3)
Moderator, Michael Leff, TreeVitalize Program Manager, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Ashley Futrell, Senior Manager- Public Policy, National Recreation and Parks Association
Faith Baker, Associate Director CCDO, US Department of Justice
Tyler Frisbee, Legislative Assistant, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3rd)
10:50am: Energy & Climate (MP3)
Moderator, Janette Monear, Executive Director, Texas Trees Foundation
Sam Stefanki, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Doris O. Matsui (CA-5th)
Neelam Patel, Heat Island Program Manager, US Environmental Protection Agency
Jeffrey Williams, Manager- Corporate Environmental Initiatives, Entergy (invited)
11:45am: Revitalization & Green Jobs (MP3)
Moderator, Miquela Craytor, Executive Director, Sustainable South Bronx
Alec Garnett, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO- 7th) (invited)
Corey Connors, Dir. of Legislative Relations, American Nursery and Landscape Assoc.
Nancy Wolf, JLN Wolf, Inc.
12:45pm: Honorary Remarks (MP3)
Nancy Buley, Director of Marketing and Communications, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Earl Blumenauer, Congressman (OR-3rd)
1:45pm: Hill Prep
Jake Reilly, Forest Policy Associate, American Forests
Congressional Briefing
Achieving SmartGrowth Policies with Green Infrastructure
Rayburn 2226 House Office Building
May 14, 2009
Moderator- Welcome (MP3)
Jared Liu, Director of Programs, Alliance for Community Trees
Using Green Infrastructure to Enhance Highways (MP3)
Anne Canby, President, Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (PDF)
Greening as a Catalyst for Neighborhood Stabilization (MP3)
Kevin Gillen, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business (PDF)
Neighborhood Parks and Public Health (MP3)
Deborah Cohen, Senior Natural Scientist, RAND Corporation (PDF)
Energy Conservation through Trees (MP3)
Zack Hill, Sr. Manager of Federal Government Affairs, Alliant Energy (PDF)
Moderator- Conclusions (MP3)
Jared Liu, Director of Programs, Alliance for Community Trees
Urban Trees Forum
May 15, 2009
8:15am: Registration and Check-In
8:45am: Framing the Day
Jared Liu, Director of Programs, Alliance for Community Trees
Guy Hager, Director, Parks & People Foundation (Chair of ACT Policy Committee)
9:00am: Transportation & Water
Moderator, Pamela Sapko, Executive Director, Delaware Center for Horticulture
Transportation Reauthorization
H.R. 6435- National Highway Chokepoint Congestion Relief ActLiving Roadways TaskforceH.R. 1780- Smart Planning for Smart Growth ActH.R. 1329- Clean, Low-Emission, Affordable, Transportation Efficiency ActS. 238- Build American Bonds Act
Urban Stormwater Mitigation Task ForceH.R. 1262- Water Quality Investment Act
10:00am: Healthy Communities
Moderator, Michael Leff, TreeVitalize Program Manager, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Greener Safer Communities Task Force
H.R. 827- Community Safety Initiative ActH.R. 927 and S. 453- Community Regeneration, Sustainability, and Innovation ActWeed and Seed active sites... to see if the program is being implemented in your community.Weed and Seed graduated sites... to see if the program was formerly implemented in your community.Weed and Seed FY10 Solicitation... if interested in jumpstarting the program in your community.Weed and Seed FY10 Application... due December 1, 2009, which gives you time to form partnerships and develop a 5-year strategic plan to address community needs, gaps, problems, and issues.
Urban Park & Recreation Recovery (UPARR)
Urban and Community Forestry Program (USFS)
11:05am: Energy & Climate
Moderator, Ray Tretheway, Executive Director, Sacramento Tree Foundation
Energy Conservation through Trees Act
Removal Rates of Particulate Matter onto Vegetation as a Function of Particle SizeVehicular Exposures and Potential Mitigations DownwindEPA-NASA Urban Heat Island Cool Communities Pilot ProjectAir Quality and Land Use Handbook: A Community Healthy Perspective
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Task Force
US EPA Heat Island Effect NewsroomUS EPA Heat Island Effect Calendar
12:00pm: Revitalization & Green Jobs
Moderator, Guy Hager, Director- Great Parks & Green Communities, Parks & People Foundation
G.R.E.E.N. Act of 2008
Green Jobs Task Force
National Small Business Tree Planting Program
Arboreal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit
1:00pm: Wrap-up
Next Steps- Jared Liu, Director of Programs, Alliance for Community Trees
Closing remarks- Guy Hager, Chair, ACT Policy Committee
Post Forum Workshop
May 15, 2009
Creating Change with Science: Effectiveness of Urban Forestry Technology Transfer
Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D., University of Washington
Related Resources:
Program Booklet
Congressional Briefing
Attendee List
Speaker Bios
