August 14, 2013
Hello Urban Forests Friends,
Here’s what’s happening in urban and community forestry:
- CA EPA documents growing impacts of Climate Change in CA
- August is a good time to contact your Representative
- Job Opportunity: Santa Monica Urban Forester
Regards,
Sonali Shah
Communications Manager
California Urban Forests Council
CA EPA Report on Climate Change Impacts on California’s Environment
A new report from the California Environmental Protection Agency shows that climate change is already having a significant impact on California.
Impacts include: warmer climate, decreasing spring snowmelt runoff, rising sea levels, shrinking glaciers, increasing wildfires, warming lakes and ocean waters, and the gradual migration of many plants and animals to higher elevations. Read more.
It’s a good time to contact your Representative
It’s August – that means the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are headed back to their home districts until the beginning of September. This is a good time to take advantage of the opportunity to educate your members of Congress about the economic and environmental value of urban and community forests—meet with them, invite them to a tree planting, and show them what you’ve accomplished. Read more
Job Opportunity: City of Santa Monica Urban Forester
JOB SUMMARY: Plans, develops, administers and supervises the staff and operation of City-wide urban forestry programs and related maintenance activities. Oversees and develops programs, policies and procedures to enhance and protect the City’s Urban Forest.
Salary: $85,560.00 – $105,636.00 annually
APPLY BY: 5:30 p.m., Thursday, September 5, 2013
HOW TO APPLY, go to: www.smgov.net/hr Phone: (310) 458-8697
Click here for full description.
Free Fruit for All!
California’s first public orchard blossoms in L.A
The renovated Del Aire Park in Los Angeles County, with 27 fruit trees and eight grapevines, officially opened to the public at the start of the year.
The county paid $4 million for the improvements — and used a little creative financing as the fruit trees were paid for from funds designated for civic art. The purpose was to blend food and aesthetics into ‘edible art’.
“Community gardens and farmers markets are truly the town centers of our communities. These are the places where people gather and get to know each other” said County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
UF Poster Contest for 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders
Know any 3rd, 4th, or 5th Grade Students interested in Trees or Art? Check out the California ReLeaf Arbor Week Poster Contest
Students are asked to create original artwork on the theme “The Trees in my Community are an Urban Forest.”
Submission deadline: Feb 15, 2013
Winners will be featured at the State Fair and awarded cash prizes provided by the California Community Forests Foundation.
Contest rules, classroom curriculum, and prize list are available here.