Urban Greenspace Conference Goes Global With Call for Papers and Sponsorship Success
The Call for Papers for major international urban trees research conference Trees, People and the Built Environment II (TPBEII) has now closed, with submissions from a record number of countries and a guarantee from the conference partners of a world-class programme. In addition, five renowned organisations have been secured as headline sponsors in a move that reaffirms the position of the conference as the premier event for professionals working with trees and green infrastructure in the built environment.
The headline sponsors for TPBEII are: Civic Trees, who have been supplying, handling, planting and relocating mature and semi mature trees since 1963; Deep Root, a leading urban landscape products and ecosystem services supplier; the Forestry Commission, the government department responsible for the protection and expansion of England and Scotland’s forests; Lend Lease, an international leader in property and infrastructure; and Myerscough College, one of the leading UK establishments for higher education in arboriculture and urban forestry.
From national to international, academic to commercial, all the conference sponsors are united in their recognition of the significance benefits our urban forests bring, whether socially, economically or environmentally. Sustainability is also at the core of the work they do, and so too is their ultimate goal to help our green spaces flourish and make our towns and cities healthier, happier and more liveable places to be.
Chair of the Conference Steering Group Dr Mark Johnston MBE commented: “The huge success of the 'Call for Papers' is a tribute to the outstanding work of the members of the Steering Group and others who ensured that this went all around the world. We received almost 100 submissions from 27 countries, embracing all corners of the globe. Competition for slots at the conference is therefore intense but we can therefore guarantee a truly world-class programme, and some very high calibre speakers.
They will join our headline speakers: Sir Terry Farrell CBE, one of the UK’s leading architect planners; Professor Timothy Beatley, Professor of Sustainable Communities at the University of Virginia; and Professor Herbert Girardet, co-founder of the World Future Council.”
Dr Johnston also acknowledged the significant support offered by the headline sponsors, saying:
“We are also delighted to welcome on board our fantastic line-up of headline sponsors. The calibre and standing of these organisations shows the regard with which TPBEII is held internationally. The range of organisations that are supporting the event also recognises the diversity of those concerned with the management and development of the urban forest. Our sponsors highlight perfectly the whole ethos of the conference in bringing together natural and built environment professionals to ensure an integrated approach, allowing us all to work together to ensure a vibrant, greener and more sustainable future for our urban communities and our urban trees.”
TPBEII is a pan-industry partnership initiative between over 20 organisations representing professionals within the greenspace and built environment sectors. It is hosted by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) as its 2014 National Conference and takes place 2-3 April, 2014 in Birmingham, UK.
The previous, and inaugural, TPBE conference took place in 2011. This time over 400 delegates are expected to attend this two-day event, bringing together tree professionals, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, architects, planners, ecologists and conservationists. Once again it looks set to be one of the largest urban tree conferences ever held in Britain.
Booking for the conference will open later in November 2013.
