Jackson Free Press

Buck Abbey says he coined the phrase "green laws" in the '70s, although he did not know what a White Pine tree was before going to college. As a matter of fact, he happened upon landscape architecture and urban design by flipping through a Michigan State University catalogue and randomly opening to a page.

"I've been thinking landscape architecture every minute of every day since," Abbey says. "Its more than part of me."

Abbey is the guest speaker at the upcoming Green Laws and Community Development workshop in Jackson June 23 and 24, and will speak on a wide variety of topics, including the definitions of urban forests and green laws. He will also cover public policy, tree ordinances and landscape codes.

Abbey, 60, grew up in Jackson, Mich., and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from Harvard University in landscape architecture. He has been teaching at Louisiana State University since 1974 and is currently an associate professor in LSU's school of landscape architecture. He also pursues what he calls his "life's research" which are green laws. His work deals with anything that has to do with nature in the city, such as community landscape ordinances, community tree laws, land development regulations and public policy, and has received numerous awards including the Frederick Law Olmsted Award from the Arbor Day Foundation in 2008. Abbey has also published several works, including the book "U.S. Landscape Ordinances," and is associate editor of "Landscape Architect & Specifier News Magazine."

People can get involved with the preservation of trees and even start an urban forest by joining a local tree commission Abbey says. He describes a tree commission as part of a community tree ordinance. "They work to educate anybody that works for the city or private developments on trees; they are the ones that help the city implement the tree policy that the city adopts," Abbey explains.

The professor also recommends attending one of the many educational seminars hosted by the Mississippi Urban Forestry Council, in addition to the upcoming workshop.

"The Mississippi Urban Forestry Council is probably one of the best in the whole country," Abbey says, "and they are very active and well-managed--well-funded--and they do a lot for the community over there. I wish our Louisiana urban forestry council was one quarter as good as Mississippi's."

As much as Abbey appreciates nature, he takes a common sense approach h. "A lot of people don't want to live in the city without nature. Some do, but most people want to continue the relationship that our species has had with nature since the time when we used to climb around in the trees," he says "It's integral to the way we live, the way we eat, the way we build shelter."

To learn how to integrate the city and nature, attend the Green Laws and Community Development workshop with Buck Abbey, which will also feature landscape architect and arborist Steve Shultz, June 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (2148 Riverside Drive.) The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Mississippi Urban Forestry Council's website.