For Immediate Release

November 3, 2005

Contact: Vanessa Gulati

617-626-1119

STATE HONORS FOUR OUTSTANDING CITIZEN FORESTERS AND GRADUATES 25 MASSACHUSETTS TREE STEWARDS

PETERSHAM—Today, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Urban and Community Forestry Program honored Margie Baldwin, Sherri Brokopp, Richard Gale and Ken Gooch at the annual Massachusetts Tree Steward Training as Outstanding Citizen Foresters for their service and dedication to urban and community forestry in the Commonwealth.

“There is a remarkable network of both volunteers and professionals working to improve Massachusetts’ urban forests,” said DCR Commissioner Stephen H. Burrington. “Graduates of the Tree Steward Training Program hail from across the Commonwealth, and they bring their new knowledge and experience back to their communities. We are proud of what they have achieved, and we look forward to supporting and honoring them in their future work.”

Also during the two-day training, 25 committed citizens and public officials received training in urban and community forestry issues, in order to help them become better stewards of the forests of their communities.

Margie Baldwin, of the Marion Tree Committee, was honored for her tireless work to improve the condition and management of the town’s urban and community forests. She has also written a pamphlet on Marion trees, overseen the landscaping at Centennial Park, and served as chairwoman of the Tree Committee. The New Bedford Standard-Times named Baldwin “Marion Woman of the Year” for 2005.

Sherri Brokopp of the Urban Ecology Institute (UEI) was nominated by the entire DCR Urban and Community Forestry team for the Outstanding Citizen Forester Award. Brokopp has been the Director of the Community Forestry Program at UEI where she has led numerous neighborhood greening projects in Boston and surrounding communities, and was recently promoted to be the Director of UEI’s Sustainable Cities Program. She also directed the completion of the first ever comprehensive street tree inventory for the City of Boston, and she played a critical role in the creation of Boston’s Urban Forest Coalition where she now serves as chairperson.

Richard Gale was honored for his service to both Amesbury and Newburyport. Gale has worked closely with Amesbury’s DPW, spearheading efforts to reforest the town’s public spaces. He has also helped coordinated spring tree plantings and tree purchases for Newburyport.

Ken Gooch of the DCR Forest Health Program was honored for his service to the community forests of western Massachusetts, lending his skills as an arborist to neighborhood groups, local non-profits, municipal governments and others. Among other activities, Gooch travels to attend numerous forestry workshops, sharing the information with colleagues in Massachusetts. In 2006, he helped Pittsfield achieve Tree City USA status for the first time.

For additional information on DCR’s Tree Steward Training Program and other Urban and Community Forestry Programs, contact Eric Seaborn at 617-626-1468 or Eric.Seaborn@state.ma.us.

Further information on Margie Baldwin, Sherri Brokopp, Richard Gale and Ken Gooch is available upon request.

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