An international call for papers has been announced ahead of a major urban tree research conference being hosted next year.

Trees, People and the Built Environment II (TPBEII) builds on the highly successful international conference first organised on behalf of a Conference Partnership in April 2011. Once again the event is returning to Birmingham, UK, on 2-3 April 2014, but this time to an even bigger venue due to an anticipated rise in delegate and exhibitor numbers.

While the conference will be hosted by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) as its 2014 National Conference, the event is a major partnership initiative, supported by a Conference Steering Group who will guide the programme content and format.

Influential Pan-Industry Partnership Support
The conference recognises the wide range of organisations and disciplines whose work relates to urban trees and, thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response to the 2011 event, the conference has gained the support of an even greater number of organisations from across the sector who recognise the important role it plays.

The conference partners for TPBE II are: The Arboricultural Association, Ancient Tree Forum, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Forest Research, Forestry Commission, Institute of Chartered Foresters, Institution of Civil Engineers, International Society of Arboriculture (UK & I Chapter), Landscape Institute,
London Tree Officers Association, Municipal Tree Officers Association, Myerscough College, National Association of Tree Officers, Natural England, Royal Institute of British Architects, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Trees and Design Action Group, University of Birmingham, University of Manchester, Utility Arboriculture Group. Consultative supporters: English Heritage, Green Infrastructure Partnership, Royal Town Planning Institute

Conference Papers
The Call for Papers for Trees, People and the Built Environment II, which runs until October 2013, offers an important platform to showcase the latest research on urban trees and urban forests. These trees are essential elements of our green infrastructure and play a vital role in promoting liveable and sustainable towns and cities. The urban forest can have numerous environmental, economic and social benefits, contributing enormously to the health and welfare of everyone who lives and works in urban areas.

Trees, People and the Built Environment II provides a first-class venue and framework for the dissemination of the research that is being carried out. The main aims of the conference are to identify:
• completed research that remains relevant
• research being undertaken currently
• gaps in research where future efforts need to be focused. 


Papers are welcomed that address any topic involving trees and the built environment, in both the social and natural sciences. These will be either:
• Original research papers presenting new work in a specific subject area
• Review papers covering existing and ongoing research in a broad subject area
(such as tree pathology, urban forest governance, tree establishment, community involvement, trees and urban design, urban forest mapping, biodiversity, etc). This type of paper is also expected to indicate where future research in that field might be focused. 

While there will be papers focusing on the UK, it is important that we learn from the broadest expertise. So, as the conference will have an international perspective, papers from overseas authors are very welcome. 


Papers will be reviewed by a panel of academic and industry specialists from the Conference Steering Group. Authors whose papers are then selected will be invited to present their work at the conference. The papers accepted will be peer-reviewed and appear in a publication of the conference proceedings.

Submissions
Authors are invited to submit Abstracts of their Papers to the Chair of the Conference Steering Group Dr Mark Johnston FICFor, Myerscough College, by 21 October 2013. Details of submission conditions can be found at www.charteredforesters.org/conference2014