TREE Fund awards over $44,000 to urban tree researchers and educators
The TREE Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2013 Fall/Winter grants. The five awards total $44,994 and support urban tree research and education across the globe. With these new awards, the TREE Fund has distributed more than $6 million in funding since its inception in 2002. Such funding is critical to attain science-based tree care knowledge and practices that effectively address the threats faced by the world’s urban forests.
“Scientific research is the best defense against insects, diseases and other threats to the trees in our communities,” says TREE Fund President/CEO M. Janet Bornancin. “We are proud to be funding the research that is so vital to the future of the tree care industry.”
In the 2013 Fall/Winter grant cycle, the TREE Fund awarded two Jack Kimmel International Grants supporting arboriculture research projects all over the world, and two John Z. Duling Grants providing “seed” funding for new, innovative research projects. One Ohio Chapter ISA Education Grant was given to support arboricultural education in Ohio.
The 2013 Fall/Winter grant recipients are as follows:
Rich Hauer (University of Wisconsin Stevens Point)–$10,000 John Z. Duling Grant supports “Assessment of Municipal Urban and Community Programs in the US and Evaluation of Associated Community Capacity.” This research will assess the capacity of municipal urban forestry programs in the United States to manage urban forest populations.
Justin Morgenroth (University of Canterbury, New Zealand)–$10,000 John Z. Duling Grant supports “Image-based 3D Urban Tree Modeling.” This research aims to develop a simple new method for producing dimensionally-accurate 3D urban tree models using a basic digital camera. This has implications for inventory, tree valuation, hazard tree assessment, benefit modelling, and arboriculture education.
Alessio Fini (University of Florence, Italy)–$10,000 Jack Kimmel International Grant supports “Effects of different sidewalk designs on soil characteristics and the growth & physiology of shade tree species.” The project will compare four different profile designs for parking lots, sidewalks, and other paved areas and evaluate the effects on adjacent soil and trees.
Andrew Koeser (University of Florida)–$9996 Jack Kimmel International Grant supports “Urban Tree Risk Assessment – Perceptions, Reality & Reliability.” This project will address three aspects of risk assessment as part of a larger research program to evaluate the reliability of commonly used risk assessment methods and improve tree risk prediction models.
Hiram College (Hiram, Ohio)–$4,998 Ohio Chapter ISA Grant supports “Environmental Tree Awareness Curriculum.” This project will extend principles of urban forestry and their positive impacts on watersheds into high-school STEM curricula by providing teachers with field books and supplies.
View all past recipients of TREE Fund grants and scholarships here.