Veneman Appoints New Members to National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the selection of four new members to USDA’s National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). Their terms begin immediately and will continue until Dec. 31, 2006.

The additional appointments to the 15-member council are: Maribel De La Torre, mayor pro tempore, City of San Fernando, San Fernando, Calif.; Melanie Kirk, urban and community forestry program specialist, Texas Cooperative Extension, Bryan, Texas; Robert L. Tate, owner, Robert L. Tate Associates, Inc., Cohasset, Calif.; and Alice Ewen Walker, executive director, National Alliance for Community Trees, Riverdale Park, Md.

In addition, Joseph Wilson, executive director, Greening Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis., has been appointed to serve as chair of NUCFAC.

“I am delighted that these individuals have agreed to provide their valuable expertise and advice to USDA for the management of our nation’s urban forests,” said Veneman.

Established under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, the council advises the Secretary on the care and management of trees, forests and related natural resources in urban and community settings throughout the nation. In addition, the council makes recommendations to the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program on competitive cost-share grants that advance the science and practice of urban forestry. Members of the Council serve without compensation and dedicate approximately 100 hours each year.

For more information, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/ .