URBANA, Ill. — Evolving research and environmental changes make it more important than ever for professionals who work with trees, landscapes, natural areas, and parks to remain current with responsible stewardship practices, understand how to successfully manage emerging diseases and pests, and apply sustainable landscape practices to support our future.
Industry professionals and land stewards interested in this intersection of agriculture and sustainability can register now for the 2024 Gateway Green Conference hosted by University of Illinois Extension. The March 6 event, held in-person at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL, will provide a platform for attendees to access current research findings and explore best practices to responsibly care for Illinois’ natural resources and cultivated outdoor spaces.
Sessions run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. across three main tracks: Building Sustainable Landscapes, Conservation Stewardship, and Tree Care.
Conference attendees will gain insights from industry experts and researchers on topics such as tree and shrub pruning, pest treatment timing, herbicide application for woody plants, plant ecology for invasives and spring ephemerals, and native plant selection, habit, and management.
Insect, pest, and disease sessions will cover laurel wilt disease distribution and spread, mosquito and tick-borne threat prevention, and lifecycle, habitat, and impact of jumping worms and spotted lanternflies in Illinois.
Register and access the conference's full agenda at go.illinois.edu/GatewayGreen2024.
Early registration on or before March 1 costs $80 per person; registration after March 1 costs $85 per person. Certified Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists with a current ID card or letter of active status from their supervising Extension county director may register for $50 per person.
Continuing education units will be available for professional association members maintaining certification through the International Society of Arboriculture, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, Illinois Park & Recreation Association, and Certified Golf Course Superintendent.
For additional information, or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Patty Stanton at pstanton@illinois.edu or call 618-344-4230.
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.