What will the Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC) be talking about in 2025? We will be talking about seasonal transition; taking Florida by storm; strategic planning; UFI Conference; S.O.A.P.; Arbor Day Foundation programs; Workshops; FUFC Awards; Marketing; FUFC members; and other urban forestry topics.
Seasonal Transition: First and foremost, the FUFC will be talking about the rotation of positions and responsibilities inside the governing body. Routine changes follow the calendar year with staggering terms of elected and appointed positions within the Slate of Officers and Executive Committee members. For example, in 2025, Darryl Richard – 2024 FUFC President will slide over to the Immediate Past President position and will be passing the Presidential baton to John Snow – 2025 FUFC President. There will be some anticipated alignments and perhaps temporary vacancies. This is a great time to seek open positions and jump on board. Opportunity is never an orphan and vacancies don’t stay vacant for long. Learn more “About Us” on our website.
Taking Florida by storm: What you will find is that the FUFC is an assembly of allied organizations that share a vested interest in sustainable urban forest management practices and resilient urban forest resources. A brief introduction to the various organizations was provided in The Council Quarterly newsletters in 2023. Like the transformation of a tropical system to a hurricane, once drawn together and organized, we adopted a unified name and began to move. A slew of spaghetti models, forecasts, and possibilities will sprout out as to the exact direction the FUFC will move. The political climate, the temperature of the waters, and atmospheric pressures upon the urban forest industry will bear down on the progress, momentum, and path to follow. The FUFC strategic plan will provide the most accurate forecast. The FUFC 2025-2030 Strategic Plan will make landfall in 2025. Opposite that of a hurricane, the FUFC will have a positive impact on trees, forests, and communities.
Strategic Planning: The FUFC is now talking about the implementation of the 5-year Strategic Plan and the 2025 Annual Work Plan. In October 2024, Committee members rendezvoused for a Strategic Planning Summit to define decisive steps necessary to actively educate, grow, advance, and promote the FUFC in its mission to serve the people, places, and programs of urban forestry throughout Florida. The Education, Communication, Membership, Marketing, Awards, S.O.A.P., and Executive Committees will be realigning their talent and experience to a cohesive effort set by a Strategic Plan. Full transparency of the FUFC Strategic Plan can be found on our Strategic Plan page.
The Urban Forestry Institute (UFI): The UFI committee will be talking about “Piecing Together Urban Forestry,” with topics, subject matter experts, research presentations, ally organization representation, sponsors & advertisers, educational sessions, C.E.U.’s, and attendance inside a Whova virtual venue. The UFI is a two-day conference and training seminar for those involved with urban forest management and urban forest issues. The UFI conference is a long-standing tradition for the FUFC, providing affordable education for a wide range of topics about urban forestry people, places, and professions. For a sneak peek at what the UFI has been all about, check out the 2024 UFI Review inside The Council Quarterly. To learn more about the UFI 2025 visit our UFI event page.
S.O.A.P.: In 2025 the FUFC will be talking about S.O.A.P. initiatives and funding for urban forest projects & programs. Staffing, Ordinances, Advocacy, and Planning will bring about the greatest return on investment for Florida communities. Whoever says, “money doesn’t grow on trees” doesn’t know our business. Learn more about S.O.A.P. by reviewing FUFC newsletters 2021 v.2 and “Stump The Forester” in 2024 v.1.
Arbor Day Foundation Programs: To thrive, urban trees and forests will require more than sunshine, soil, water, and a day of celebration. The FUFC joins the Arbor Day Foundation when nurturing an ecosystem of people, organizations, campuses, utilities, and municipalities who plan, plant, advocate, and care for urban trees. FUFC will continue to promote the Arbor Day Foundation’s suite of tree-recognition programs; to include, Tree City USA, Tree Cities of the World, Tree Campus Higher Education, Tree Campus K-12, Tree Campus Healthcare, and Tree Line USA programs. Learn more by visiting the Arbor Day Foundation’s website.
Project Learning Tree – Florida: In 2025, the FUFC will be talking trees and about urban forest resources, advancement of environmental literacy, forest stewardship, and pathways to green industry careers. It is no surprise that in 2025 we will be talking with Project Learning Tree-Florida (PLT-FL). PLT-FL is “Environmental Education” specifically designed for educators, teachers, parents, and community leaders working with youth. FUFC joins PLT-FL in the efforts to create a future generation that values the natural world and has the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions to sustain forests and the broader environment.
As is our mission, FUFC will be collaborating with the University of Florida Extension Service, the Florida Forest Service (FFS), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and other organizations in support of PLT-FL sponsoring educator trainings, meetings, conferences, and the development of teaching materials for educators.
FUFC Awards: The FUFC will be talking about outstanding professionals, tree advocates, urban forestry projects and programs, utility arboriculture, and lifetime achievements through the FUFC annual awards program. The FUFC recognizes the achievements of organizations and individuals in their efforts to manage, promote, educate, and advocate for urban forests in Florida communities. Are your outstanding people, places, and programs being recognized, announced, celebrated, and awarded? Find out more about the Friends of Our Urban Forest Awards program.
FUFC Members: Of course, we will be talking about growing an upward-trending membership base by expanding our audience and impact for FUFC projects and programs. The FUFC will be talking about members with FUFC member spotlights, awards, social media posts, and other member recognition opportunities. Join the “who’s who” in Florida’s urban forestry community by becoming a member and joining the FUFC. Stand up, stand out, and be recognized.
FUFC Marketing: The FUFC will continue progress on Florida’s urban forestry puzzle by gathering the pieces and putting them in place. This will require the enhancement of existing partnerships with member organizations and cultivating partnership opportunities with allied and like-minded organizations.
Other topics: Other topics of discussion can be found within the agenda for the UFI conference; regional workshops; The Council Quarterly newsletters; In A Nutshell monthly e-bulletins; dedicated social media sites; and during the FUFC Executive Board meetings. Lean in, speak up, roll up your sleeves, and join the tree-talk. We got work to do.
