Staff Report

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The state’s professional association for urban foresters started its three-day annual conference Wednesday in Fairhope.

The Alabama Urban Forestry Association’s 2007 annual conference, titled “Growing in the Wind,” will conclude Friday on the downtown campus of Faulkner State Community College.

Presenters and guests include Alabama’s state forester, Linda S. Casey, and professors in environmental horticutlure and research from the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The keynote lecture Wednesday from 7:30 to 9 on “Tree Research and Education: Getting Us into the Future” was presented by Ed Gilman, professor of environmental horticulture at the University of Florida. Gilman has also authored six books on trees and landscape plants.

Topics on Thursday included “Structural Pruning to Reduce Storm Damage,” “Landscaping with Hurricanes in Mind: Lessons Learned from Ten Hurricanes” and “Selecting Coastal Plains Species for Wind Resistance.”

Thursday’s activities culminated with the city’s tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

On Friday there will be outdoor climbing and rigging demonstrations to round out the three-day event.