Thank you for your interest in participating in the 2026 Tennessee Urban Forestry Conference!

We are excited to host the conference at the Memphis Botanic Garden on October 28 - 30, 2026.

This year's theme, Raising the Canopy, borrows from the intentional pruning practice to create clearance and improve a tree's long-term function. It requires thoughtful decisions today that lead to better outcomes tomorrow.

This year's theme applies that same mindset across the urban and community forestry ecosystem. Whether we're caring for trees, managing urban forests, engaging communities, conducting research, or shaping policy, Raising the Canopy challenges us to be intentional in our work, raise the standard of practice, and create lasting benefits for the people and communities we serve.

We invite presentation proposals from practitioners, researchers, educators, consultants, nonprofit leaders, utility professionals, municipal staff, and community advocates. Sessions should provide practical value, inspire new ideas, or share lessons learned that attendees can apply in their own work.

We also invite poster & display proposals that showcase research, community initiatives, or student projects. These will be featured during breaks and networking sessions.

Proposal Deadline: July 17

Selected participants will be notified by August 7.

All sessions will need to qualify for International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) CEU pre-approval, which will be coordinated by TUFC.

TUFC Speaker Compensation Policy: TUFC keynote speakers and longform workshop facilitators are eligible to receive an honorarium, speaking fee, and/or travel reimbursement. General speakers, tour leaders, and panelists are eligible for reduced registration rates and typically reside locally in Tennessee or the immediate region. Most speakers present at the conference as a way to give back and connect with peers. As a non-profit organization, TUFC has been able to keep conference attendance costs affordable due to the dedication and generosity of our presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors, as well as support from the Tennessee Division of Forestry.