WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | ZOOM
This presentation will review a CALFIRE endorsed policy for public agencies to recycle urban trees for their highest and best use. The goal is developing a circular economy around the wood from routine tree removals that come from the urban forest. This will be presented by Michael Palat. We will then discuss the state of urban wood as illustrate by the success story of the street tree revival out of Orange County. John Mahoney will cover what can be done with this amazing, locally sourced, resource. We will conclude with Scott Paul discussing how Taylor Guitars, a local company, has initiated a global movement towards the recognition of the value of urban wood beyond the mulch pile.
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Speakers:
Michael Palat currently works as Vice President of West Coast Arborists Inc., overseeing public agency contracts and field operations in Southern California and Arizona. He is also an Associate Faculty instructor of Arboriculture at Mira Costa College. Michael is also the current Chairman of the San Diego Regional Urban Forests Council and is active in the Professional Tree Care Association of San Diego as well as the Western Chapter ISA. He is also a current Board member for Tree San Diego a local non-profit. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management with a minor in Environmental Science from California University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate from the Municipal Foresters Institute and the American Society of Consulting Arborists Academy and is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with utility and municipal specialties. He is also a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified.
John Mahoney West Coast Arborists (Street Tree Revival) Area Manager At the intersection of power tools and creativity, John Mahoney found his niche – turning otherwise forgotten urban green waste into dazzling works of art. Born into a family of tree workers, arborists, and creatives, it was no mystery that Big John would find himself carving his own legacy into the Urban Forest just as his dad did before him. Chainsaw carving at the age of 22 John started witnessing the emotional connection people displayed with something that could have so easily become mulch or firewood. Enveloped in sawdust and entrenched in the competitive beard world, John found himself at a crossroads between one-off artistic ventures and a desire for a greater purpose – to raise awareness of the importance and value of this precious bioresource from its carbon capturing capabilities to its unique, unrivaled beauty. This practice has turned into mission of salvaged wood stewardship. Today he oversees Street Tree Revival, an Urban Wood Recycling program founded by West Coast Arborists, inc. California’s top tree maintenance and management company for communities who care about trees. John Mahoney moderated a discussion on urban wood at the California urban forest councils conference. Presented at Desert green conference in Las Vegas. Has appeared on Television including Spike tvs “framework” a furniture design show, pbs “Things green” John is 6’4 and tree hundred pounds of solid love for turning dying and diseased trees into high end urban wood products.
Scott Paul is the Director of Natural Resource Sustainability at Taylor Guitars. He comes to Taylor Guitars with over 25 years’ experience working for some of the largest environmental organizations in the world, including 14 years at Greenpeace where he served as the Director of the Forest Campaign. Scott has significant international policy experience including working for The White House Office on Environmental Policy and participating in the U.N. forest policy dialogue. Scott has particular expertise with environmental advocacy campaigns, business development, and ethical sourcing. He is well-versed in diplomatic relations and has spoken before the United Nations and appeared on national television and radio. He is also the first person in over 100 years to have been arrested for Sailor Mongering.