It is the mission of the Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC) to promote the value, enhancement and sound management of urban forests through leadership, collaboration, guidance, and education.
When people ask me what makes the Florida Urban Forestry Council different, my answer is surprisingly simple: “We connect people.”
Yes, we continue to provide education. We host conferences, webinars, and professional development opportunities. Our greatest strength has never been the programs themselves. It’s the relationships those programs create and the people they bring together.
As I look back on the first half of 2026, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. We’ve continued to expand highly successful Foundational Friday webinars, completed an important modernization of the FUFC bylaws, and continued streamlining the Council’s operations to improve our value to members. Our educational programs remain among the strongest in our profession, membership continues to grow, and we’re expanding partnerships throughout Florida’s green industry.
Perhaps the most exciting development has been the growth of our Municipal Roundtable initiative and the Regional Forestry Work Groups that are forming throughout the state. These groups are creating opportunities for municipal arborists, planners, foresters, and other professionals to connect with peers who understand the unique challenges they face every day.
For many professionals working in local government, those connections simply haven’t existed before. Now they do. Instead of facing challenges in isolation, professionals are sharing ideas, asking questions, learning from one another, and building relationships that strengthen urban forestry throughout Florida. That’s exactly the kind of collaboration our profession needs.
Looking ahead, I see tremendous opportunities to continue building connections. Whether it’s expanding the Municipal Roundtables, developing utility-focused working groups, growing our partnership with Florida’s Project Learning Tree (FL-PLT), exploring future scholarship opportunities, or continuing to strengthen S.O.A.P. initiatives, our focus remains the same. We’re investing in people.
This year has been a reminder that many organizations are facing financial pressures. Budget reductions at every level have affected travel, training, and professional development opportunities for many of our members.
But I believe something strongly: Budget cuts don’t have to become knowledge cuts. As leaders, we have a responsibility to find new ways to share knowledge, connect with professionals, and make education more accessible. That’s exactly why the Council continues to invest in programs like Foundational Friday webinars, regional Municipal Roundtables, the Urban Forestry Institute (UFI), the Urban Forestry Summit, Impact Awards, and The Council Quarterly. When we continue learning from one another, our communities benefit.
Serving as your President has given me a deeper appreciation for what makes this organization successful. Leadership isn’t about one person making decisions. It’s about listening. Some of the most important work we’ve done this year has come from conversations with our officers, Executive Committee, committee volunteers, and members throughout the Council. Modernizing an organization requires difficult decisions. Our decisions are always better when they reflect the perspectives and experience of the people who care about our future.
On a personal note, this has also been one of the most difficult seasons of my life following the recent passing of my wife, Karen. She believed deeply in the importance of community and was one of the greatest supporters in my work within urban forestry. Throughout this time, I have been grateful for the kindness, encouragement, and support shown by so many members of the FUFC family. It has been a reminder that organizations are ultimately about people, and I will always be thankful for this community.
As we move into the second half of the year, I encourage every member to become involved. Attend a webinar. Join a committee. Participate in a Municipal Roundtable. Volunteer your expertise. Help mentor the next generation. The Florida Urban Forestry Council is strongest when its members are actively engaged, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another.
I hope people think of the Florida Urban Forestry Council as the organization that brings Florida’s green industry together to advance urban forestry through education, collaboration, and leadership.
In the end, strong urban forests don’t happen by accident. They happen when people decide urban forests matter—and work together to manage them well.
John Snow President, Florida Urban Forestry Council
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This Issue:
2026 v.3
The Council Quarterly is published by the Florida Urban Forestry Council. When copying or sharing content found within any issue, kindly link to our website and mention our organization. Thank you for reading & sharing!
Please let us know what urban forestry projects you have going on in your neck of the woods. The Florida Urban Forestry Council would greatly appreciate the opportunity to share your information in our newsletter. These articles can include:
New trends in the industry
News about tree advocacy groups
Volunteer projects
City tree programs
Letters to the Editor
Questions for “Stump the Forester”
We look forward to hearing from you on this or any other interesting topic related to the urban forestry industry and profession. Please send any articles or ideas to the FUFC newsletter editor. Thanks for contributing!
