Urban Forestry

Justin graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation and a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Ecology. He spent several years on research projects studying traits of tree species in the Eastern U.S. After graduating he worked for Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services, helping administer the landscape code and ordinances. Justin is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist. With the tree plantings of this department he hopes to balance the short term benefits and long term benefits of trees so that all an enjoy.

As an urban forester, my job is to help the people of our city understand the significant benefits trees provide to us while also giving the trees a chance to provide these benefits. My goal is to help people understand that street trees are not a "nice thing to have" but instead a necessity to the lives of us humans, as well as those plants and animals that we share this urban ecosystem with.