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Session Guide

SUN-B03: Future Trees: Strategies for Designing and Managing Canopies for Institutional Landscapes

Sunday, October 12, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM CT
Location: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room R02-R03
1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW, AICP, ISA, NY/HSW, FL

Institutional landscapes face historic canopy decline from climate change, storms, neglect, and weak regeneration. Without decisive action, these canopies may disappear within decades. This session ignites new thinking around revitalizing institutional landscapes through strategic, long-term canopy planning. Experts share practical, action-driven strategies to prepare trees for the next 50 years.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Analyze the primary factors driving canopy decline in institutional landscapes and understand why passive regeneration alone fails to sustain healthy tree cover.
  • Identify critical site-specific constraints—such as irrigation, deer pressure, invasive species, and climate shifts—to guide adaptive management and planting strategies.
  • Compare different installation approaches (ecological vs. traditional) for achieving both immediate impact and long-term canopy resilience.
  • Evaluate how thoughtful species selection—balancing native genetics, climate-assisted migration, and diverse reproduction—builds a robust, ecologically resilient canopy.