19 June - 20 June 2024

The organisers of the conference are Treeconomics & the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.  

Urban forests play an indispensable role in enhancing environmental quality, human health, and the overall liveability of cities. The myriad benefits offered by trees, ranging from carbon sequestration and air pollution mitigation to aesthetic and recreational value, collectively constitute the ecosystem services they provide. While the importance of these services is widely recognised, their quantification, particularly in urban settings, remains challenging. There is a plethora of data that can be generated from our urban forests, and a variety of different methodologies are currently in use. i-Tree is one such methodology, and has been used in over 100 countries worldwide. The results from an i-Tree project can be used to make decisions, develop policies, and set priorities around treescapes. But it’s not always easy to see how such data can be translated into action. The i-Tree conference aims to bridge the gap between technology and environmental science, focusing on the latest research that enables detailed, accurate, and scalable measurement of the ecosystem services provided by trees in urban areas.

At the i-Tree Conference, you will hear from Belfast, The Netherlands, and Forest Research UK, about i-Tree projects that have yielded concrete action on the ground. We hope that these stories will inspire others to take up their own i-Tree projects and make positive change. You will also hear from the Davey Group in the US about what i-Tree is, and its latest features, and from the University of Florence on the evolution of digital tools, their limitations, and the future of ecosystem service measurement.

But it’s not all about i-Tree! Tony Kirkham (author and presenter) will be joining us to talk about ‘A Lifetime with Trees’, the legacy of his work and its importance in establishing resilient, diverse and sustainable treescapes in the face of climate change. Tony will share his personal thoughts on what the future holds and how understanding our treescapes through i-Tree can be useful. We will also be joined by Blair Parkin of the Eden Project, who will be sharing their vision for a landmark development in Dundee, transforming a former gasworks into a beacon for green tourism. The Dundee Eden Project will encourage visitors to learn from and be inspired by nature. Kevin Frediani, Curator of Dundee Botanic Garden, will discuss the collaborative work that is happening across the landscapes of Dundee. He will also share his ideas on greenspaces as places that become imbued with emotion by the actions and reactions of people and the environment.

The Dundee Treescapes Tour is included as part of the i-Tree Conference registration fee and open to delegate partners to attend free of charge. 

The organisers of the plenary are the University of Dundee Botanic Garden and Treeconomics.

Urban ReLeaf is a transformative initiative, fostering innovation and foresight across six European cities and beyond. At the free morning session, you will hear from a range of speakers exploring how best to engage citizens in understanding the benefits of climate resilience planning. Thereby empowering citizens to co-create sustainable, liveable, and resilient urban environments. Transforming cities to combat climate change and improve quality of life is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Integrating Earth Observation (EO) technologies with community-based environmental monitoring can foster cross-sectoral innovation critical to addressing this challenge. This inaugural face-to-face meeting in Dundee brings together minds from urban planning, sustainable urbanism, architecture, landscape architecture, and ecology. Explore Urban Design Foresight for Nature-based Solutions and Blue Green Infrastructure!

What to Expect:

• Global Insights: Hear from decision-makers, designers, urbanists, planners, and environmentalists.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with experts and enthusiasts

Key Topics:

• Foresight and Scenario Planning for Urban Design
• Integrating Local Insights and Complex City Data, ensuring inclusivity
• Urban design foresight Best Practices in UK and EU, and Global Leadership

Learn more…

And something really special for day 3…. On Friday 21st you will be able to enjoy a walkabout tour of some special places of interest in Dundee, but none that appear in any tourist brochure! In Slessor Gardens, a Dundee City Council £1 billion flagship development, our sponsor GreenBlue Urban will be demonstrating good planting techniques, by excavating one of the trees to reveal what is going on below ground. In St Leonards Park, delegates will see trees being used as solar fountains. A little further on, Dundee’s first ‘People’s Park’ gives a stunning example of a community engagement project in the city. The day will conclude with a visit to Dundee Botanic Garden, home of our conference co-hosts.

This tour is part of the i-Tree Conference registration fee and open to delegate partners to attend free of charge. 

We are looking forward to seeing you at the 4th European i-Tree Conference & Urban ReLeaf Plenary in Dundee, Scotland on 19 - 20 June 2024.

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• Registration is Open

We are working with Dundee City Region Convention Bureau and DACBRes to manage accommodation for the 4th European i-Tree Conference and Urban ReLeaf Plenary providing a variety of accommodation close to the conference venue.

Guaranteed Rates & Availability - Rates are fixed & subject to availability & individual hotel terms and conditions – True room availability – only rooms available to book are displayed.

Breakfast & VAT Included - No hidden extras – the price you see is the price you pay. Changes up to 24 hours before your arrival (subject to individual hotel Terms & Conditions).

Nothing To Pay Upfront - Details of your valid credit card are only used to guarantee your reservation. Pay on check in (subject to individual hotel Terms & Conditions).

Visit our official accommodation portal and book your accommodation

View our sponsorship packages (opens pdf document)

Organised by colleagues from Treeconomics and the University of Dundee Botanic Garden, with support from Dundee City Region Convention Bureau.

	Nadine Moreby, Treeconomics
	Kenton Rogers, Treeconomics
	Kevin Frediani, University of Dundee
	Dr Husam Al Waer, University of Dundee
	Karen Brough, University of Dundee Botanic Gardens

With support from Debbie Ree, Dundee City Region Convention Bureau

Follow us on LinkedIn, and join the online conversation using our official event hashtag #itree24

Engage with the online community during the conference in the following ways:

Share your key takeaways using #itree24
Search for #itree24 and engage with other attendees

The conference is being held at the award winning Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee.

Named after the Earl of Dalhousie, second Chancellor of the University, this was designed by Campbell & Arnott and opened by the Queen in 2007.

View Dalhousie Building's Accessibility Guide and Green Credentials (open as pdf document)

Loganair is offering up to 30% off flights to delegates travelling to/from Dundee from London Heathrow (LHR), Sumburgh (LSI) and Kirkwall (KOI) Airports for this conference. 

Please book at Loganair.co.uk before 24 June 2024, quoting promotional code TREEURBAN24 at the time of booking, for travel between 16 June 2024 – 24 June 2024. 

Visit Loganair to book (link opens in new window) 

Launched in 2021, GreenSkies is Loganair’s sustainability initiative, which sets out how the company will achieve its ambitious target of becoming net zero by 2040. One part of the initiative is a small mandatory charge as part of every fare; with funds then invested in internationally accredited carbon offset schemes to take the same amount of carbon out of the atmosphere that each flight produces. While the carbon offsetting programme is the first step, Loganair have also been engaging with leading aerospace and technology companies to ensure we can have the systems we need to achieve our carbon-neutral goal.

Follow government guidance on travelling safely in the UK and Scotland.

View our Travel Made Easy Guide

Dundee is Scotland's sunniest city, with lots of green and growing spaces to wander to and through.  Some include Balgay Park, with Mills Observatory, Victoria Gardens and great views.  Stop by the grand pavilion in Baxter Park, wave to the swans, ducks and model boats at Swannie Ponds, and don't miss the cherry blossoms at Dawson Park! At Camperdown Country Park you'll find a tree trail, Campy Growers and the Wildlive Centre and Caird Park is home to Mains Castle and Den o'Mains woodland. Walk around the reservoir at Clatto Country Park.  Experience landscapes from around the world at Dundee Botanic Gardens and the wildlife and walking routes of Templeton Woods.  Keep your eyes peeled for local flora and fauna at nature reserves, including Riverside, The Miley, and Trottick Mill Ponds.  Dundee's wonderful community gardens network includes Duntrune Community Gardens, Ninewells Community Garden, Tayview Community Gardens (with the Wee Forest nearby) and The MAXwell Garden.  Visit growdundee.blog to discover gardens urban orchards, allotments and foraging spots.

Source: 99 Things to see & do in Dundee

Get active out and about in Dundee city.  A compact city bursting with places of interest, history, and things to see, it is so easy to get around.

Dundee’s active travel routes in and around the city have been developed over the last few years with a key objective to encourage active travel through walking, cycling and public transport, and deploy sustainable alternatives to decarbonise transport.  Read more on Dundee.com Active Travel website.

MixMap is a friendly, easy to use, locally produced Dundee map for tourists showcasing the colourful range of independent businesses, attractions and places of interest in Dundee and Broughty Ferry.

We want to help you make the most of your time in our city. Discover great little shops, welcoming restaurants, immersive attractions with Visit MixMap The Dundee Tourist Map website.

For conference enquiries email info@treeconomics.co.uk

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