Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest announces the return of their popular Tree Tender Course, with six opportunities to participate city-wide in 2010.  Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest is an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the City’s vitality by restoring and protecting the urban forest through tree maintenance, planting, education and advocacy.

The course trains residents in basic tree biology, structure & function, and teaches the basics of tree planting, pruning, and tree care.  Local tree professionals provide instruction.   After completing the course, Tree Tenders work in their communities to plant, care for, and prune young trees with Friends, and can participate in upcoming workshops that cover tree identification and pruning in more detail.

The course will be held in 5 different areas of the city in 2010, including the Strip District, Larimer, Greenfield, Mount Washington, and Riverview Park.

According to the 2005 City of Pittsburgh Street Tree Inventory, the city has approximately 30,000 street trees, and over 3,000 of those trees have been removed due to disease, vandalism or neglect.  Thousands more trees are at risk of being removed if they do not receive much needed care.  FPUF and the City Forestry Division are working to improve the urban forest, but residents can play an important role in increasing its health and reversing its decline.

Registration is open now at http://www.pittsburghforest.org/treetendercourse. The cost of the course is $40 and includes materials, a meal at each session, and a t-shirt upon completion. A reduced rate option is available for those on a limited income—Contact Caitlin for details at Caitlin@pittsburghforest.org.

Join over 600 Pittsburgh residents greening the city, one tree at a time!