Trees Atlanta will host its first annual Atlanta Canopy Conference on Friday, September 23, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center located at 225 Chester Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. The conference is for professionals, community leaders, and residents to take the lessons learned from the creation of the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum and apply them to their own projects while protecting our urban canopy.
 
An arboretum is a botanical garden focused on woody plants, which are grown for research, education and display. The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is a collective effort of Trees Atlanta, the Atlanta BeltLine, and members of the surrounding community. The Arboretum will continue to develop as the Atlanta BeltLine itself continues to extend to a 22-mile corridor of trails, parks, trees, native grasses, wildflowers, art and so much more, while also attracting pollinators and wildlife.
 
“Our canopy is changing. Good design can both protect and improve our urban forest. Trees are becoming more critical to our communities as our cities rapidly develop and transform,” said Trees Atlanta’s Co-Executive Director, Greg Levine. “This conference will include experts who will address how arboreta can improve quality of life and demonstrate solutions for urban environmental challenges."
 
The Atlanta Canopy Conference will feature a morning keynote by Darrel Morrison, FASLA, a pioneer in the use of native plants and natural processes in the design of urban landscapes. The afternoon session, Building the Arboretum: Past, Present, and the Future, includes a panel discussion with four registered landscape architects from The Portico Group, Perkins + Will, Hedstrom Design, and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. who influence the design, implementation, and continued development of the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum. The Atlanta Canopy Conference includes sessions on landscape design, arboreta collections, soil, tree diversity and availability, and actions attendees can take to apply the best practices from local arboreta to their green spaces.
 
Don’t miss your chance to hear presentations from noted horticulture experts and landscape professionals to help you bring the Arboretum home! Presenting organizations include: Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Bold Springs Nursery, Cox Arboretum, Ecological Landscape Management, Georgia Tech Arboretum, The Portico Group, Perkins + Will, Hedstrom Design, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., The Conservation Fund, Georgia Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and Trees Atlanta.
 
Full, half-day and student registration is available. Full-day attendees will be eligible for CEU credits, and will receive lunch, conference gift bag, and a discount to Tailgate for Trees. Complete conference information and registration is available at www.treesatlanta.org/canopyconference.
 
Prior to the conference, join Trees Atlanta and The Nature Conservancy on Thursday, September 22 for Tailgate for Trees, a casual gathering and friend-raiser to kick off the Atlanta tree planting season. To purchase tickets, please visit www.treesatlanta.org/tailgatefortrees.