Conference to Focus on Forests' Role in Water Quality

AUBURN, Ala. — A water-quality protection plan that would offer forest landowners incentives to keep their land in trees will be one proposal up for discussion during a conference the Auburn University Center for Forest Sustainability (CFS) will sponsor Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

The conference, titled “The Role of Forests in Urbanizing Landscapes: Maintenance of Water Quality,” is open to the public but will be of special interest to Alabama landowners as well as to developers, agricultural producers, water and soil resource managers, city and regional planners and environmental officials.

During the one-day gathering, participants will look at the impact that urban development and loss of forestland have on water quality, learn about several potential approaches to watershed protection in urbanizing areas and have the opportunity to offer input on water quality protection plans for Alabama.

Keynote speaker will be Albert Appleton, a former New York City Department of Environmental Protection commissioner and water and sewer system director who launched a highly successful watershed protection program that has saved New York City an estimated $8 billion in water treatment costs alone.

Appleton, now senior fellow with the 31-county, New York City–based Regional Plan Association, will share his experiences with and offer insights on the creation of effective urban-suburban-rural watershed protection partnerships.

The $50 registration fee for the conference includes a welcome reception at the hotel from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24.

For more information on the conference, contact Erik Schilling at (334) 844-1033 or schileb@auburn.edu or Lisa Ditchkoff at (334) 329-8288 or lisa@pepsnow.com.

The Center for Forest Sustainability, one of AU’s seven Peaks of Excellence programs, is based in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and seeks, through both research and education, to address the impact of expanding human populations on quality of life and natural resources.

Auburn University is a comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama's largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu

07/22/2004

For immediate release