Urban Forestry Summit

Attend the Florida Urban Forestry Council’s
2026 Urban Forestry Summit!

Summit Schedule

Thursday, July 30, 2026

8:30 – 8:45 AM – Registration & Welcome

8:45 – 9:45 AM – NatureScape Broward providing trees to build canopy and support wildlife (1 CEU)
Speaker: Anthony Gross, Broward County Natural Resources Division
Learn how Broward County’s NatureScape program is helping residents, municipalities, and community partners grow urban tree canopy while supporting water conservation and wildlife habitat. This session will highlight native and fruit tree giveaways, community partnerships, landscape certification, public outreach, and practical strategies that can be adapted by communities throughout Florida.

9:45 – 10:45 AM – FDOT Planning for Trees (1 CEU)
Speaker: Darryl Richard, Florida Department of Transportation
Planning tree projects within transportation corridors requires coordination, patience, and a strong understanding of FDOT processes. This session will help attendees better understand local agency partnerships, project programming, right-of-way considerations, design constraints, maintenance planning, and potential funding options for successful tree planting projects along Florida roadways.

10:45 – 11:15 AM – Vendor Break – Enjoy time to connect with our vendors and network with attendees!

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM – Preserving More Than Buildings: Advocacy, Historic Canopy & the Springfield Arboretum Story (1 CEU)
Speaker: Zach Hansen, SPAR Council
Explore how a neighborhood tree inventory grew into a community stewardship movement in Jacksonville’s Springfield Historic District. This session will share how canopy mapping, heat island data, grant funding, ArbNet accreditation, TreeWalks, and cross-sector partnerships helped build public support for urban forestry and create a model that can be replicated in communities across Florida.

12:15 – 1:30 PM – Networking Lunch at Hotel

1:30 – 3:00 PM – Breakout Sessions (1.5 CEU’s)
Breakout topics include:

Urban Forestry: Right Way Within the Right-of-Way (Municipal & Urban Forestry)
Speakers: Shannon Brewer, Joe Anderson, Omar Leon
Trees, utilities, roads, sidewalks, stormwater, emergency access, and residents all intersect within the public right-of-way. This interactive breakout session brings municipal and utility forestry professionals together for a practical discussion on coordination, species selection, direct-grow contracts, storm impacts, improved specifications, and strategies to move from reactive conflict to proactive planning.

Outreach & Informal Education Breakout
Speakers: Emily Blum, Elise Casey, Anthony Gross
Details Coming Soon – How do we get more people to care about trees before there is a crisis? This interactive breakout will focus on outreach, education, public engagement, and creative ways to connect residents, students, local leaders, and community partners with the value of urban forestry. Additional speaker and session details will be announced soon.

 3:00 – 3:30 PM – Gainesville Bat Houses (.5 CEU)
Speaker: Shelly Johnson, UF Bat Houses
Before the evening Bat House Experience, attendees will learn more about the importance of bat houses, habitat, education, and the unique role bats play in Florida’s ecosystems. This session will provide helpful context before attendees experience one of Gainesville’s most memorable natural attractions later that evening.

3:30 – 5:00 PM – Vendor Networking Social
Connect with exhibitors, sponsors, and fellow attendees during an informal networking social following Thursday’s educational sessions. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. This is a great opportunity to meet industry partners, explore available resources, and continue conversations from the day’s sessions.

8:00 PM – Evening Bat House Experience
Join fellow attendees for an evening visit to Gainesville’s famous Bat Houses. Participants may meet at the hotel around 7:15 PM to walk or travel together, or meet the group on-site. Bats typically emerge approximately 20 minutes after sunset, creating a memorable shared experience to close out the first day of the Summit.

Friday, July 31, 2026

7:30 – 8:30 AM – Networking Breakfast 

8:30 – 11:00 AM – Morning Tour Sessions (2.5 CEU’s)
Pre-Registration Required. Attendees may select from the following tour options:

Campus Tour – Tree ID and Disease Identification Tour
Hosted by UFEC | Pre-Registration Required
Step outside the classroom and explore the University of Florida campus as a living learning environment. This field-based tour will focus on tree identification and disease recognition, giving attendees the opportunity to observe real-world examples and sharpen practical field skills. Additional details will be announced soon.

Rating Tree Conditions in the Field
Speaker: John Snow, Tree CheckUp
This hands-on field session examines the limitations of traditional percentage-based CTLA tree condition ratings and introduces a structured Tree Condition Rating Scale. After a brief classroom overview, participants will evaluate live trees in the field, compare results with peers, and discuss how to create more consistent, explainable, and defensible tree assessments.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – FUFC Membership Meeting
Join FUFC leadership for the annual membership meeting, including Executive Committee introductions, bylaw updates, an annual membership overview, and sponsor fast talks. This session gives members a closer look at Council priorities, organizational updates, and opportunities to stay engaged in FUFC’s work across Florida.

12:00 – 1:00 PM – Awards Luncheon
Celebrate the people, projects, and organizations making a difference in Florida’s urban forestry community. The Awards Luncheon provides an opportunity to recognize leadership, innovation, service, and impact while gathering with colleagues from across the state.

1:00 – 1:30 PM – Keynote Program (.5 CEU) Award recognition presentation featuring:
Speaker: Eric Muecke,City of Tampa
This keynote program will highlight leadership, service, and the ongoing work required to strengthen Florida’s urban forests. Eric Muecke will share perspective from municipal forestry practice while helping recognize award recipients and the professionals contributing to healthier, more resilient communities.

1:30 – 2:30 PM – AI in Urban Forestry: What Works Today, What Doesn’t, & What’s Next (1 CEU)
Speaker: Marshall Jones, PlanIT Geo
AI is quickly changing the way communities collect, interpret, and use urban forestry data—but understanding what the technology can and cannot do is essential. This session will explore how AI, street-level LiDAR, and canopy data are being used today to support urban forest planning, where the technology still has limitations, and what communities should watch for in the next wave of innovation. Attendees will gain practical insight into how to set realistic expectations, write stronger RFP language, and protect their projects with clear deliverables. The session will also highlight how platforms like PlanIT Geo are incorporating AI into canopy and LiDAR workflows to help cities access faster, more defensible urban forestry insights.

2:30 – 3:30 PM – Leaders in Urban Forestry Panel Discussion (1 CEU)
Moderated by: John Harris
The Summit concludes with a panel discussion featuring leaders in Florida’s urban forestry community. Panelists will reflect on key themes from the Summit, share insights from their own work, and discuss the future of urban forestry across the state. Attendees will leave with perspective, ideas, and encouragement to continue advancing this work in their own communities.

3:30 PM – Conference Adjourns