WESLACO The Lower Rio Grande Valley’s first tree conference kicks off later this week to help improve the area’s urban forest. The goal of RGV Tree Conference 2006 is to protect existing trees, plant more trees and improve the quality of tree care here, according to a conference organizer.
Paul Johnson, a regional urban forester with the Texas Forest Service at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, said the two-day conference is designed for anyone with an interest in trees.
“This conference is geared for professionals,” Johnson said, “but we’ve kept the admission costs as low as possible because the information we’ll be discussing is of value to anybody, including homeowners, who wants a better understanding of how to care for trees themselves, or how to hire the right person to do the job for them.”
On the first day, the conference will be at Quinta Mazatlan, a city-owned nature facility in McAllen. Registration will begins at 8:30 a.m.; cost is $30. The next day, the conference will be held at the International Technology, Education and Commerce Campus on Mexico Blvd. in Brownsville. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and also costs $30.
“The only topic that will be presented on both days of the conference will be tree care safety,” Johnson said. “So, ideally, people should attend both days.”
Naturally wooded areas of the Valley have been changed over the years due to the area’s agricultural history and recent development, he said. But still-natural areas or reserves where trees have been planted need to be protected, preserved and saved in development as well.
“The City of Brownsville has a good city ordinance that requires developers to conduct a tree site inventory on the property prior to development, and to replace any cut down trees with the same total amount of caliper,” Johnson said.
While such an ordinance may involve private property rights, Johnson said tree ordinances are not unlike other regulations for the public good.
The city forester in Brownsville, Ed Kuprel, will discuss city tree ordinances. John Giedraitis, an urban forestry program coordinator for the Texas Forest Service, will discuss developing tree inventory and management plans.
“Before we can determine how best to improve an area’s tree population, we first have to know what’s out there,” Johnson said. “We need to know how many trees, where, what size, how old, which species, and other details that help us work with public officials and city leaders to determine how best to manage an urban forest.”
Dr. Gene Lester and Scott Pajeski will discuss tree selection for the Valley. Lester is a plant physiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco. Pajeski is a landscape architect.
“These two speakers will offer different perspectives on what to consider when we decide to plant trees,” Johnson said. “Dr. Lester will speak on making native tree selection and Mr. Pajeski will talk about using both native and locally adapted trees.”
Mark Duff, International Society of Arborculture board-certified master arborist, will discuss tree and palm pruning.
“The most common pruning mistakes are over-pruning, topping, using the wrong tools, or pruning at the wrong time of year,” Johnson said. “Duff will impart some very timely and interesting information on good and bad pruning practices.”
For more information, contact Johnson at 956-969-5654, or e-mail pjohnson@tfs.tamu.edu.
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