The New York State Urban Forestry Council (NYSUFC) is a volunteer group, organized formally in 1999, to advise and assist the NYS Department of Conservation (DEC) in executing its Urban and Community Forestry policies. The Council’s major funding, supplied through the USDA Forest Service,is supplemented by membership dues and independent contributions.
Mission
New York State’s Urban Forestry program is a partnership of public, private and volunteer organizations and individuals that fosters comprehensive planning, management and education throughout New York to create a healthy urban and community forest and enhance quality of life.
Vision
The New York State Urban Forestry Council envisions that every community in New York State will recognize the value of trees and maximize the use of trees to help improve the community’s quality of life.
Goals
- Strengthen Board Structure and Membership
Attract public, private and volunteer organizations, and individuals to help promote the mission and vision of the Urban Forestry Council.
- Identify and Promote the Benefits of Trees
Promote the appreciation and understanding of the environmental, economic and social benefits of trees in the urban and community environment.
- Provide Educational Tools
Advance Urban and Community Forestry outreach, training and education.
- Provide Planning and Management Tools
Promote and support comprehensive Urban and Community Forestry planning and the application of industry Best Management Practices and current research.
Links
Officers of the Board
Executive Committee
| First | Last | Affiliation | Region | Board Term Exp | EC Term Exp | Title |
| Karen | Emmerich | Freshwater Environmental Consultants/ R3 ReLeaf Chair | 3 | 2020 | 2019 | President |
| Steve | Harris | Syracuse Dept of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs | 7 | 2019 | 2019 | Vice Pres |
| Art | Traver | Wendel | 9 | 2020 | 2020 | Treasurer |
| Brian | Liberti | City of Rochester | 8 | 2021 | 2020 | Secretary |
| Vincent | Drzewucki | Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County | 1 | 2020 | 2019 | At-Large |
| Phil | Healey | Inc. Village of Lynbrook | 1 | 2020 | 2019 | At-Large |
| Pat | Tobin | Fayetteville Tree Commission | 7 | 2019 | 2019 | At-Large |
| L.D. Terry | Hawkridge | Rustic Pines | 6 | 2021 | 2019 | At-Large |
Board of Directors
| First | Last | Affiliation | Region | Board Term Exp | ||
| Christopher | Anderson | NYS Association of Towns | 4 | 2021 | ||
| Karen | Arent | KALA/ Landscape Architect | 3 | 2020 | ||
| Dr. Nina | Bassuk | Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute | 7 | 2021 | ||
| Mark | Beamish | Orange & Rockland | 3 | 2019 | ||
| Jeffrey | Bell | NYSEG | 4 | 2019 | ||
| Vincent | Biondo | Town of Babylon | 1 | 2021 | ||
| Lori | Brockelbank | Davey Resource Group | 9 | 2019 | ||
| Brenda | Cagle | Town of Red Hook | 3 | 2021 | ||
| Joe | Charap | The Green-Wood Cemetery | 2 | 2019 | ||
| Mike | DeMarco | City of Watertown | 6 | 2019 | ||
| Sharon | DiLorenzo | Capital Roots | 5 | 2020 | ||
| Larry | Ferrandiz | PSE&G | 1 | 2019 | ||
| Glenn | Gentzke | Tree Services of Western New York LLC | 9 | 2019 | ||
| Danielle | Gift | NYC Parks | 2 | 2020 | ||
| Jeanne | Grace | City of Ithaca | 7 | 2021 | ||
| Ross | Hassinger | City of Buffalo | 9 | 2021 | ||
| Andrew | Hillman | Davey Resource Group | 7 | 2020 | ||
| Rachel | Holmes | The Nature Conservancy | 4 | 2020 | ||
| James | Kaechele | NYC Tree Trust/NYC Parks | 2 | 2020 | ||
| Jennifer | Kotary | NYS DEC | 4 | 2020 | ||
| Greg | Michel | Onondaga Youth Corps | 7 | 2019 | ||
| Andrew | Newman | NYC Parks | 2 | 2019 | ||
| Judy | Pangman | City of Oneonta | 4 | 2021 | ||
| Glen | Roberts | NYS DEC | 6 | 2021 | ||
| Jamie | Rogers | North Elba Tree Board | 5 | 2019 | ||
| Brian | Skinner | Lewis Tree Service | 7 | 2021 |
Ex-Officio
| First | Last | Affiliation | ||||
| Mary | Kramarchyk | NYS DEC | ||||
| Eric | Greenfield | USFS/Instructor at SUNY ESF | ||||
| Martin | Mullarkey | |||||
| John | Parry | USDA Forest Service | ||||
| Rob | Messenger | NYS DEC Bureau Chief, Bureau of Forest Resource Mgt. | ||||
| Sally | Kellogg | NYS DEC | ||||
| Mary | Martin | NYS DEC |
Staff
| First | Last | Title |
| Liana | Gooding | Executive Secretary for NYSUFC |
| Michelle | Sutton | Editor, Taking Root |
| Sarah | Gugercin | Website Manager |