Caguas hosts congress on urban tree management, climate resilience.

Laura García Santamaría of Reforestamos México presents her talk on the efforts her country is undertaking in the development and management of urban trees.

By THE STAR STAFF

The exchange of technical, scientific and community experiences on urban tree management, climate resilience and environmental planning marked the theme of the Congress on Urban Tree Management held over the weekend by the Municipal Administration of Caguas with the participation of local and international resources.

For two days, the meeting at the Ángel O. Berríos Center for Fine Arts in Caguas addressed issues related to the proper management of urban trees, the use of new technologies for forest inventory and monitoring, urban heat mitigation, ecosystem services and community participation as an essential component of resilient cities.

Caguas Mayor William Miranda Torres stressed that such forums strengthen a vision of the city where the environment, planning and quality of life are part of the same public policy. “Sharing knowledge and experiences around the management of our urban trees is also to strengthen the capacity of our cities to better respond to current and future environmental challenges,” the mayor said.

The congress was attended by specialists from Puerto Rico, the United States and Mexico, including tropical ecologist Ariel E. Lugo, scientist emeritus of the U.S. Forest Service; Sophie Plitt of the Arbor Day Foundation; and Laura García Santamaría from Reforestamos México.

Caguas has a recognized track record in the field, being the first and only city in Puerto Rico to obtain and maintain for 18 consecutive years the Tree City USA recognition, as well as the island’s first and only city with a Tree City of the World distinction.

The initiative also strengthened the dialogue between academic, community, technical and municipal sectors around the importance of continuing to develop cities that are more environmentally prepared for the challenges of climate change.