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The forum “Let’s Talk About Urban Trees” strengthened environmental reflect...

The forum “Let’s Talk About Urban Trees” strengthened environmental reflection at the University of Cauca

9 April, 2026

The Jorge Eliécer Carrera Auditorium of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences was the venue where, on October 17, the forum “Let’s Talk About Urban Trees” was held, an academic meeting that encouraged reflection on the ecological, social, and landscape importance of trees in urban and university environments. The event, which ran from 7:30 a.m. to 5:40 p.m., was organized by the Technical Committee for Environmental Management, the Forestry Engineering Program, and the Forests and Silviculture Research Group, with the support of the Center for Quality Management and Institutional Accreditation.

During the forum, professors, researchers, and students discussed the assessment and management of urban trees, the diversity of species on university campuses, and the ecosystem services provided by trees, emphasizing the need to strengthen conservation and sustainable management policies at the University of Cauca and in the city of Popayán. “This space arises from the motivation to make visible the efforts being carried out by academia and the university administration to protect the campus tree population. It is an invitation to take ownership of these green spaces and to contribute from each field of knowledge to their care,” stated Román Ospina, coordinator of the Forestry Engineering Program and director of the Forests and Communities Research Group.

The forum featured the participation of renowned national experts who shared their experience in urban tree management and its relevance for the sustainable planning of cities. Among them, Carlos Acosta, coordinator of the Urban Forest Network of DAGMA in Cali, stood out, presenting the lecture “Renaturalization through urban forests,” focused on the recovery of ecosystems within urban environments. Likewise, Nury Cobo Villamil, executive director of the Colombian Association of Arboriculture, delivered her presentation “Structural elements in the planning and management of urban trees: challenges and perspectives in Latin America,” where she outlined the challenges faced by arboriculture in urban settings. “Urban tree management requires specialized training and coordinated management among responsible entities. There is still a lack of awareness about the role of trees as allies in the face of climate change,” the speaker noted.

The event also featured the participation of the Environmental Management team of the Center for Quality Management and Institutional Accreditation, which presented the main lines of action of the Institutional Environmental Policy, highlighting the role of the University in consolidating a university-wide environmental culture.

“These spaces strengthen the articulation between academia and institutional management, promoting an environmental awareness that goes beyond the campus,” stated Alexandra Muñoz, leader of the Environmental Management team, who emphasized the importance of linking technical knowledge with community action. “Reflecting on urban trees is also about thinking of the sustainable future of our University,” she added.

The educational component was one of the central axes of the forum, where students from different semesters of the Forestry Engineering Program actively participated in the lectures and discussion sessions, reaffirming the relevance of trees as a living laboratory for learning. “This is a space where knowledge from different areas converges to build new guidelines that guide the management of university tree populations,” commented Tatiana Rivera, student and coordinator of the Forests and Silviculture Research Training Group.

Likewise, Valentina Delgado, a ninth-semester student and member of the research training group, stated that “Urban trees are a living laboratory that allows us to apply conservation strategies that directly contribute to the environmental Wellness of the university community.”

In this way, for many attendees, the experience was also an inspiring approach to the environmental responsibility of future professionals. “Participating in this forum helped me understand how trees influence the quality of the urban environment and how each person can contribute to their care,” expressed Santiago Bojorge, a Forestry Engineering student.

The forum “Let’s Talk About Urban Trees” was consolidated as an interdisciplinary academic space that made it possible to integrate research, teaching, and social outreach around environmental care. Through activities like this, the University of Cauca reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, comprehensive education, and the construction of a more aware and environmentally committed university community.