Hixon Center Urban Conference Urban Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate

The 10th annual Hixon Center Urban Conference is jointly convened by the Hixon Center for Urban Ecology, the USDA Forest Service, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Natural Areas Conservancy.

There is mounting evidence that trees in cities hold an important role in ameliorating the impacts of climate change and addressing environmental injustices. Last year’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concludes with confidence that extreme urban heat waves will occur more frequently in the future. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is both a physical and mental health hazard. This is especially harmful for Environmental Justice communities, who often have unequal access to tree cover and the associated environmental benefits that trees provide. Urban forestry efforts can help address these challenges. The Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act has created historic levels of funding to support the expansion of urban forestry practices and programs. This conference brings together researchers and practitioners to highlight the latest urban forestry research and innovative management examples to help meet this significant funding opportunity.