Last month, the National Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) hosted a public forum in Puerto Rico to share ideas, best practices and research on urgent issues facing tropical urban forests. A cross-section of leaders from Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam and other areas addressed issues impacting coastal areas, island ecosystems, effective public policy reform, and potentially increased funding ideas that address the complex issues impacting tropical forestry. NUCFAC will continue to solicit input on these issues through written submissions and an online survey that covers seven topics specifically impacting tropical forestry:

1. Invasive Species - Prevention & Control
2. Coastal Readiness & Shoreline Protection
3. Climate Change & Ecosystem Impacts
4. Ecco Tourism & Tropical Forests
5. Nurseries Standards & Production
6. Cultural practice, Assessment of Tropical Urban & Community Forestry Program
7. Accessing Research and Technology Transfer

Public input will continue to be recorded until September 1, 2008, as part of NUCFAC's 2008 recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture. For more information on the public forum or how to give input, visit the NUCFAC website at www.treelink.org/nucfac .