Aug. 16, 2016
Paul
Johnson, Crusader: Changing how we talk about trees
FORT WORTH, Texas - Texas A&M Forest
Service Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator Paul Johnson has
discovered that it is not enough for communities to sustainably manage and
care for the urban forest. In order to make a lasting difference, individual
people have to get engaged, educated and enthused about trees. And Johnson has
made it his life’s work to spread the word.
Aptly coined
the @treevangelist, Johnson’s
moniker on Twitter is no accident. Johnson spends a large
percentage of his time reaching out to others in both conventional and
inventive ways — converting all who will listen into advocates of the
treasured, renewable resource: trees.
All
who will listen — Johnson’s audiences — are vast and varied.
But he is especially interested in reaching the general public. Urban and community forestry — tree population management, and the
field of arboriculture — single-tree management, are lesser known outside of
the forestry and horticulture disciplines in which the fields developed.
Johnson chooses to speak beyond the proverbial choir, and his messages are
far-reaching.
"Trees are the largest, longest-lived, and
most important part of our landscapes," said Johnson. “It is
vital that more people understand the role of trees in our lives. Trees are key
to healthy, happy communities.”
Johnson is arguably as much
of a people-person as he is a tree-person. With a long and active history of
making state and national public appearances, he has presented more than 500
programs covering 75 subjects including Team Lorax - Speaking for Trees
and Why Invest in Community Trees. Johnson also has presented a tree
talk at TEDx San Antonio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-1eBgNOjP0&sns;=em.
Taking advantage of communications technology, Johnson’s
communications campaign also has strong social media components.
Johnson hosts Tree Chats on Twitter each week. Chats garner
approximately 50 participants, translating to around 500 tweets, retweets,
replies, links and pictures — resulting in approximately 1.5 million
impressions and up to 145,000 users.
Although his Tree
Chats seem prolific, it is from his former experience as a radio show host that
Johnson may have found his niche in the weekly podcast Trees Are
Key. The tree-themed podcast provides insights and advice
through an easily accessible platform at www.treesarekey.com. Texas A&M Forest
Service celebrates the success of the podcast this week as the series has
reached more than 15,000 listeners from 23 countries.
It is
for his positive impact on the urban forestry industry in and around his
community, and for his innovative outreach efforts, that Johnson has been named
a “True Professional of Arboriculture™” by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Johnson
was recognized at the opening session of ISA’s 92nd Annual
International Conference Monday, Aug. 15, in Fort Worth, Texas.
His home agency, Texas A&M Forest Service is quite
proud.
"Paul is a passionate, innovative leader in urban
forestry and his ‘tree-enthusiasm’ is contagious both here in Texas and across
the country,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Director Tom
Boggus. “His recognition by ISA is well-deserved as he strives to
reach the masses about the many benefits our urban forests provide — and the
number of his converts is growing!"
Johnson has been an
urban forester with Texas A&M Forest Service since 2004, becoming the
program’s coordinator in 2012. Under his leadership, urban and community
forestry outreach has helped increase public awareness of the value of urban
trees; set quality standards for tree planting and care; and provided guidance
for communities toward sustainable tree care management.
For more information, see the International
Society of Arboriculture’s original news
release on Johnson’s award at www.isa-arbor.com.
#ISAfortworth,
#TreesAreKey
@TXForestService, @treevangelist, @ISArboriculture,
@ISA_Texas
###
Caption: (left
to right) ISA Awards committee Chair Lauren Lanphear, Forest City Tree
Protection Co Inc. and Paul Johnson, Texas A&M Forest Service Urban and
Community Forestry Program Coordinator.
Contacts
Texas A&M Forest Service Communications
979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu
Paul
Johnson, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, Texas A&M Forest
Service
210-289-0815, pjohnson@tfs.tamu.edu