2026 Tree Professionals Seminar
Early Bird pricing through Oct. 31, 2026
In-person event
Join us for the 2026 Tree Professionals Seminar, where we bring together experts dedicated to tree planting and tree health.
Attendees will have the opportunity to earn CEUs while creating a vibrant community of professionals committed to enhancing the health and beauty of our urban landscapes.
Not a tree professional but love to learn? You are welcome to register for this seminar.
The seminar includes:
- Lunch
- ISA, ASLA, AICP CEUs are Pending
- OCVN education credits
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Sponsorships Available:
Invest in the professionals growing a healthier tree canopy across Greater Cincinnati. Your sponsorship helps make Taking Root’s work possible while connecting your company with the professionals leading it. Contact Taking Root for sponsorship details
Keynote:
Urban Greenness and Cardiovascular Health
Aruni Bhatnagar, PhD, Director, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville
Learning Objectives
1: Understand the link between greenness and health.
2: Evaluate the environmental and health impacts of urban greening interventions.
3: Assessment of microforests in urban mitigation.
Bio
Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar is Professor of Medicine and Distinguished University Scholar at the University of Louisville and the Green Heart Louisville leadership and research team. A leading expert on the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular health, his research examines how natural, social, and personal environments influence chronic disease risk. He has helped pioneer the field of environmental cardiology, connecting environmental conditions with heart health.
His research has also explored the health benefits of urban greenspaces, including their role in reducing exposure to airborne chemicals and pollutants and lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Dr. Bhatnagar has published more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has received numerous awards for research, scholarship, and mentorship.
Novel Methods to Assess Ecological Restoration Techniques from Miyawaki Forests to Recovering Streams
Kenneth Petren, PhD, Professor, Director of the UC Field Center, University of Cincinnati
Learning Objectives
1: Understand the ways in which Miyawaki forests can be measured for their intended effects.
2: Understand some innovative ways to measure biodiversity and restoration
3: Understand the history, strengths and limitations of eDNA studies of stream biodiversity.
Bio
Ken has shifted his focus from evolutionary ecology to applied conservation, developing a co-op model in which university students help measure and plan ecological restoration projects. Most of these projects are conducted in partnership with a growing number of external organizations. His lab uses eDNA techniques to survey biodiversity and track individual species, and he is exploring the use of field-deployed sensors and deep learning algorithms to quantify biodiversity. He currently serves as chair of the Hamilton County Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
Lessons from History and Reacting to Spotted Lanternfly
Jonathan Larson, PhD, Extension Entomologist, Martin Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky
Learning Objectives
1: Understand the biology and life cycle of the spotted lanternfly
2: Be able to better select management options for this invasive species
3: Be able to contextualize invasive species responses
Bio
Jonathan Larson has served as an insect information specialist with University of Kentucky Department of Entomology since 2019. He provides expertise on insect pests affecting urban landscapes, turfgrass, nursery crops, greenhouses, ornamentals, and people. Larson connects growers, green industry professionals, Extension agents, and the public with research-based insect information through education, applied research, podcasts, social media, and traditional media.
Planning Urban Growth for Wildlife Conservation: Lessons from the Pileated Woodpecker in Cincinnati
Ruijia Hu, PhD, Adjunct Instructor, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati
Learning Objectives
1: Explain how urban forest structure and tree characteristics influence wildlife habitat suitability in fragmented urban landscapes.
2: See how LiDAR and multispectral imagery can help identify important habitat features in urban forests.
3: Explore how planning for future urban growth can help protect urban forests while maintaining wildlife movement and habitat availability.
Bio
Ruijia Hu is a geographer and GIS researcher specializing in urban ecology, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and environmental planning. She earned her PhD in Geography and GIS and Master of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on urbanization, habitat connectivity, wildlife conservation, and scenario-based land-use planning. She also teaches GIS, spatial statistics, and urban geography courses at the University of Cincinnati.
Biochar in Cincinnati: Collaborating to Enhance Urban Soils
Sam Dunlap, Founder/Owner, Carbon Harvest LLC
Learning Objectives
1: What biochar is and how it is made.
2: Learn about the biochar ecosystem developing in Cincinnati.
3: Discover multiple applications of biochar and how they can use it in their work
Bio
Sam Dunlap founded Carbon Harvest LLC in 2020 with the express mission of developing the Cincinnati Biochar Project. Carbon Harvest is the private partner to the Cincinnati Park Board for biochar production and its marketing and utilization. The project is anchored in growing a healthier, more robust urban tree canopy, but its goals touch many other areas as well.
Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
OKI Regional Council of Governments
720 E Pete Rose Way, 4th Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Pending ISA, ASLA, AICP CEU Credits
OCVN Education Credits
Questions about the seminar, please reach out to Taking Root.
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