April 20-21, 2010
Washington, DC
The Alliance for Community Trees is pleased to invite you to the second-annual Green Infrastructure Summit, to be held on April 20-21 at Washington, DC's Stewart Mott House and adjoining United Methodist Building. The two-day event will feature conversations with the country's top authorities on forward-thinking solutions to urban environmental health and livability.
Trees are essential to the health and livability of our nation's cities and towns. Clean air, green streets, and healthy 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. Please plan to join the Alliance for Community Trees at the Infrastructure Summit and Urban Trees Forum for two days of Hill meetings and discussions on Energy & Climate, Transportation & Water, Healthy Communities, and Revitalization & Green Jobs.
APRIL 19, 2010- Evening Reception & Awards Presentation
* Public Service Medal
The Public Service Medal is awarded to that public leader who has worked most ardently to integrate trees into local, state, or national communities. The recognition is open to any elected or appointed public official whose efforts have made a contribution to urban forestry by improving community trees and the neighborhoods which they are in.
* Volunteer of the Year
This honor recognizes volunteers who model the ideals of stewardship, giving, professionalism, and leadership. This is an opportunity for ACT members to nationally recognize outstanding local volunteers. Finalists were announced at the Annual Meeting.
APRIL 20, 2010- Green Infrastructure Summit
Panel Discussions:
City Planning- SmartGrowth and Urban Forestry (8am)
A Conversation with Cong. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Smart Growth intersects with urban forestry on many levels: energy costs, crime, livability/sustainability, and more. Urban design is no longer isolated solely to buildings. Trees are part of the natural infrastructure, and their beneficial effects on urban landscapes are becoming better known. Understanding SmartGrowth trends can help position projects and programs to better integrate with building and land use trends.
Field Tour: TBD.
Quenching Environmental Thirst- Re-thinking Stormwater Management
Major U.S. cities are starting to embrace stormwater instead of hustling it down sewers and into rivers as fast as possible. Such plans reimagine the city as an oasis of rain gardens, green roofs, thousands of additional trees, porous pavement, and more. All would act as sponges to absorb- or at least stall- the billions of gallons of rainwater that overwhelm the city sewer system.
Field Tour: TBD.
No Energy Security Without Energy Conservation
Choosing energy technologies such as clean coal and nuclear power instead of energy conservation strategies such as shade trees and greenroofs is a false choice. We can do both. Trees lower the temperature through shade. The cooling effects of trees can save millions of energy dollars and barrels of oil. Just 3-4 shade trees located strategically around a house can cut summer cooling costs by 30-50%. Simiarly, greenroofs ideal for urban settings in which high-density developments offer few opportunities for shade trees or rainwater percolation.
Field Tour: TBD.
Putting the Green Back Into Green Jobs
The green industry is a $40 billion market and increasing quickly. In many sectors of the green industry, including tree care, there is a job for every trained worker available. Some communities have caught on and are offering workforce training to expose adults and high school graduates to these career opportunities. Particularly, the partnership between urban youth and trees diversifies the green industry's work force and makes green areas more accessible to urban communities.
Field Tour: TBD.
Hill Prep Workshop- Lobbying 101
Please set up your own meetings with your Congressional members for both afternoons in order to share with them your perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for federal support of urban forests in your city or town. An important aspect of these meetings is to highlight the need to address the issues facing green infrastructure in cities and towns. Prior to your meeting, ACT will offer- to anyone interested- a concentrated advocacy session that includes pointers on how to talk about your work, strategies that highlight resources you can provide, effectively frame your message to various DC/Hill audiences to include information about legislation you're interested in, and basic meeting protocol. The Hill Prep will also give a brief overview of ACT talking points that can preface your own organizational message/issues for use with Hill staffers.
Lobby on Your Own
Conversation with Congressional Keynote
APRIL 21, 2010- Municipal Sustainability Forum
Panel Discussions:
A. Tree Ordinances and Design Standards
As urban areas expand, communities want to preserve open lands and environmentally sensitive areas and mitigate environmental problems related to development. Often a tree ordinance is a key aspect of the framework for managing community forest and, in general, public resources. It provides legal authority for defining municipal responsibility for public and private trees, conducting forestry programs, passing regulations, and setting minimum standards for management. The intersection of nonprofit community leaders, government agencies, and experienced land-use professionals is where effective tree ordinances, land preservation strategies, and environmental mitigation plans often begin to help ensure that their communities develop sustainably.
B. Green Jobs
Unemployment rates are at recent highs across the U.S. Employers are in desperate need of skilled workers equipped with job readiness skill sets that will support a substantial, sustainable, and vibrant workforce in the emerging green economy. In response, some cities have developed training and education programs for low-income individuals. Typical program are 12 week intensive job training in which participants learn basic techniques such as Landscaping 101, Green Roof Installation & Maintenance, Ecological & Wetland Restoration, and Water and Soil Quality Testing.
C. Canopy Campaigns & Capitalization of Trees
Many cities and counties around the country are taking up the banner of a canopy campaign or public tree initiative. A central challenge to such programs is how to balance required mandates, public relations goals, and implementing a visionary yet achievable initiative. Both are about long-term visions to create greener, greater cities while also being smart about economics. Subsequently, they're also about meeting important health, economic, and environmental benefits, and creating a more sustainable urban environment. Under such a banner, public, private and nonprofit organizations are rallying as part of local and federal calls to service and the broader environmental movement.
Congressional Briefing
This briefing will describe what makes green infrastructure essential when planning and implementing traditional infrastructure projects, and how early and collaborative designs that include green infrastructure are often safer, more efficient, and cheaper. The four speakers will cover: water, capitalization of trees, green jobs, and city planning. Speakers will also discuss the importance of using green infrastructure to educate local communities and the general public about sustainability practices. Finally, of interest to all Congressional offices, the panel will shed light on what green infrastructure is and how to use it to maximum advantage.
2010 Healthy and Livability Index Report
This year, ACT will release the first annual Health and Livability Index, a measure of national trends and public policy impacting urban environmental health and livability. Among other findings, the Index will spotlight the Greenest U.S. Cities to live in and the Greenest Members of Congress working to create clean air, green streets, and healthy neighborhoods.
Lobby on Your Own
Conversation with Congressional Keynote
Registration
There is no cost to attend the Green Infrastructure Summit. However, as space is limited, please do RSVP promptly by clicking below. We hope you're able to join us, and please do let us know if you have any questions.
Register for the 2010 Green Infrastructure Summit.
