Early bird booking has opened for an acclaimed urban trees research conference. Trees, People and the Built Environment 3 (TPBE3) will return to Birmingham University, 5-6 April 2017.
The triennial conference is a unique gathering of built and natural environment professionals, working towards the shared goal of enhancing green infrastructure. It provides an important platform for collaboration between professions and offers new research on the environmental, social and economic benefits of urban trees. Next year’s conference focuses in particular on two themes: health and highways. Prof Alan Simson, TPBE3 Conference Chair, commented on the significance of these subjects:
“The significant relationship between trees, people and place has been a ‘known known’ for a long time, but it is only relatively recently that research has been able to positively prove the benefits of this relationship, particularly to the places where we live, love, work, recreate and have our being. This conference will focus upon two specific yet inter-related aspects of these benefits – those associated with human health and well-being, and those associated with movement and transport. Key speakers from both overseas and the UK will be presenting aspects of their research and best practice into these important themes at this conference, which will be a significant event in promoting the benefits that trees can bring to urban futures in the 21st century.”
Confirmed keynote speakers for this event include landscape planning and public health expert, Dr Matilda van den Bosch, University of British Columbia; Prof Miles Tight, Professor of Transport, Energy and Environment, University of Birmingham; and Maarten Buijs, Senior Project Manager at internationally acclaimed Dutch urban design and landscape architecture firm, West 8.
TPBE3 is hosted and organised by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) on behalf of a group of partner organisations, including: Ancient Tree Forum, Arboricultural Association, Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, Forestry Commission England, Forest Research, Fund4Trees, Green Infrastructure Partnership (TCPA), Institution of Civil Engineers, London Tree Officers Association, Municipal Tree Officers Association, National Association of Tree Officers, Place Alliance, Society for the Environment, Trees and Design Action Group, Urban Design Group, Utility Arboriculture Group and Woodland Trust.
Shireen Chambers FICFor, ICF Executive Director, welcomed the opportunity for collaboration with such a wide range of natural and built environment organisations;
“The Institute of Chartered Foresters is proud to host and organise the Trees, People and the Built Environment conference series on behalf of the conference partners. The event is a unique opportunity for professionals from across the natural and built environment sectors to meet and collaborate on the important issue of urban greening. Urban trees are an essential part of our green infrastructure and it is imperative that we provide such opportunities for joined-up thinking across the professions.”
The 2011 and 2014 conferences were sell-out events and international interest is expected once again this year. The Institute is advising early booking to make the most of the early bird rate, which offers a 15% discount on full-price two-day tickets. Early bird booking ends 31 January, 2017.
For further information and booking visit: www.charteredforesters.org/tpbe3