[CANUFNET] U of T Faculty of Forestry

Fri Jul 5 08:01:37 EDT 2019

Thanks Grace

Alice Casselman from Acer copied the CBC in her response. I agree that the media is the best way of letting people know. Also strong community groups like Oakville Green always put the local politicians on guard for the environment. I found in my experience as Executive Director of the Ontario Urban Forest Council that the people that needed to attend our educational conferences (planners, developers and engineers) would not or did not. The U of T Board of Governors includes all the Deans of Faculties, the President and Chairperson as far as I could see. I know the Provost initiated this process. Her report is available if you ask for it from Dean Wright or send me a separate email from this list. What really hurts that in the history of the University there was only 1 other disestablishment back 50 years ago.

Best Jack Radecki  7T6

From: Grace Golightly <gragoli at gmail.com> 
Sent: July 4, 2019 7:51 PM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet at list.web.net>
Cc: Charlotte Young <charlotte at envision-synergy.net>; Jack Radecki <jackandali at sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] U of T Faculty of Forestry

I would really urge those who are most knowledgeable about what closing the U of T forestry program will mean, to write letters-to-the-editor of local, national and provincial newspapers and alert the media. 

Most newspapers will also consider printing op-eds (opinion editorials), which permit a longer format than letters to the editor. It's important to get the word out.

It does seem incredible that this has happened, just as reforestation is being seen as a way to help save the world from climate change, and more and more studies show how beneficial trees are to people, and life on earth as we know it. 

Please read this article from the Guardian -- planting trees is seen as by far more effective than any other method of carbon reduction:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions

Best wishes,

Grace

On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 8:33 AM Jack Radecki via CANUFNET <canufnet at list.web.net <mailto:canufnet at list.web.net> > wrote:

There was definitely a problem with the consultation process especially in the latter days – e.g. only 2 alumni at Dean Wright’s recent meeting? My view is that the program was not sustainable anymore in its present state because of how the present state occurred? Some 26 years ago the Board succeeded in terminating the undergraduate program. The communication problems and lack of support echo in my ears. At the end I spoke to many alumni especially undergraduates who had already “thrown in the towel.” What a shame. Even though I made a carefully worded submission to the Board I was not allowed to speak. Nicole Tratnik spoke well representing the FGSA on our behalf but that fell on deaf ears.

Jack

From: Charlotte Young <charlotte at envision-synergy.net <mailto:charlotte at envision-synergy.net> > 
Sent: June 27, 2019 9:02 AM
To: 'Canadian Urban Forest Network' <canufnet at list.web.net <mailto:canufnet at list.web.net> >
Cc: 'Jack Radecki' <jackandali at sympatico.ca <mailto:jackandali at sympatico.ca> >
Subject: RE: [CANUFNET] U of T Faculty of Forestry

Oh, Jack.

This has been a long time coming, eh? I am very saddened. Where I did my PhD (University of Michigan) has done the same thing – it’s now the School of Sustainability and Environment (or the like) – they dropped an undergraduate program, reorganized a lot, and recently dropped “Natural Resouces” from the name of the School. It’s so disheartening. 

I guess it means we need to continue to “fight the good fight” so to speak before our world is completely doomed! I wonder how this decision was informed (or not) by our recent declaration of a climate emergency.

Grrr!

Hope you are well, otherwise, and enjoying it being summer.

Charlotte

~~~~~

Charlotte Young, Ph.D., Facilitator~Graphic Recorder~Evaluator

envision SYNERGY ~ environmental vision together 

Catalyzing collaboration for a healthy planet – across sectors, silos and skill sets

120 Dewhurst Blvd. Toronto ON M4J 3J6

envision-synergy.net <http://envision-synergy.net>  ~ pictureyourthoughts.com <http://pictureyourthoughts.com> 

416-778-4713;  <mailto:charlotte at envision-synergy.net> charlotte at envision-synergy.net

~~~~~

From: CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Jack Radecki via CANUFNET
Sent: June 26, 2019 10:22 AM
To: 'Canadian Urban Forest Network'
Cc: Jack Radecki
Subject: [CANUFNET] U of T Faculty of Forestry

Yesterday shortly after 5:00 PM, the U of T Board of Governors voted to disestablish the oldest forestry school in Canada. They succeeded 26 years ago to terminate the undergraduate program.

The process includes an amalgamation into the Faculty of Landscape Architecture with a promise to continue undergraduate studies within the Arts and Science program and to maintain current graduate programs including the MFC.

Jack Radecki B.Sc.F. 7T6

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