Tree symposium

Conversations on trees

On World Environment Day, 5 June 2024, Willoughby City Council hosted a series of expert talks celebrating nature’s unsung heroes, trees. Discover how these gentle giants improve our lives in ways that you hadn’t thought of and be inspired with insights on their immense impact.

Learn something new about the power of trees and how every person benefits.

Symposium presentations:

	Fire risk or saviours? Trees, bushfires, and climate change Presenter: Greg Mullins AO and AFSM Irrefutable evidence shows climate change intensifies extreme weather, fuelling heatwaves, droughts, fires, storms, and floods. Australia's worst-ever bushfires, the Black Summer Fires of 2019-20, was a climate change-driven event that caused some to fear their once-cherished leafy surrounds. Greg is an internationally recognised leader in coordinating major emergency responses to natural disasters. Hear why he believes trees are essential to our lives, lowering urban heat, creating rain, and reducing greenhouse gases. Watch presentation via YouTube
	Green and Blue: Our Urban City Presenter: David Martin Green spaces vegetated with grass, plants, and canopy trees offer a natural solution to mitigate the effects of extreme heat events. Understand the critical role green and blue infrastructure play in urban cooling with densification of home living. Learn about the local research projects that have taken place to mitigate urban heat such as the Willoughby Urban Heat Study with Western Sydney University, and SIMP@CT (Smart Irrigation for Parks and Cool Towns) in Bicentennial Park. Watch presentation via YouTube
	Tree healing and health powers Presenter: Dr Sarah Brikke (PhD) Evidence has mounted about nature’s ability to help manage people’s social, mental and physical wellbeing. Studies show lower instances of serious health issues such as diabetes in urban areas with more tree canopy. Learn concepts and practices that will help you tap into nature for stress release, a sense of purpose and wellness. Watch presentation via YouTube
	Designing your home amongst the trees Presenter: Paul Knox Learn how to design your new home or renovation amongst the trees. Far too often developers and home owners believe they need to start with a stripped bare piece of land. Leave inspired with the possibilities of what you can do with trees and have a greater appreciation of the immense value a tree adds to your property. Watch presentation via YouTube
	Tree connections: Where land meets the trees Presenters: Professor Michael Gillings and Vanessa McPherson Delve into the captivating realm of mycorrhizal networks and unearth the fascinating interplay between trees, fungi, and their surrounding environment. Discover how trees ‘talk’, through these symbiotic partnerships, engaging in a complex dialogue. Fungi serve as mediators of interaction, fostering resilience and cooperation among plant communities. Watch presentation via YouTube

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