Description

A site plan gets approved without anyone checking the tree preservation ordinance. A hazard tree stands over a playground for years before anyone assesses it. A species gets misidentified in December, and the wrong tree comes down.  

Regulations and risk assessment sit on opposite ends of the same job, and most people are only trained for one. 

And the gap between them is exactly where projects stall and trees fail. 

So if you have ever gotten a permit rejected over an ordinance you didn’t know applied, struggled to identify a tree with no leaves on it, or wondered whether a tree is actually a hazard or just ugly, this training is for you. 

Join Kay Evanovich, ISA Certified Arborist, TRAQ, as she walks through the regulations, the identification skills, and the risk assessment tools you need on every job… 

…PLUS real case studies of projects that balanced development and trees, and some that didn’t. 

Covering regulations, identification, and risk assessment side by side, this training will help arborists, engineers, architects, and other green industry professionals build projects that hold up under review and protect the trees that are worth keeping. 

Don’t let a missed ordinance or an overlooked hazard tree cost you the project. 

  • How to navigate municipal tree ordinances and preservation laws without stalling your site plan  
  • What engineers and architects need to know to integrate trees into a site plan from day one  
  • How to identify common Southeastern species by leaf, and by twig, bud, and bark in winter  
  • How to spot the signs of stress, damage, and environmental risk before a tree becomes a liability 

Register now!

Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.


Monday, December 14, 2026
9:00 am – 11:00 am CT


Agenda:
Presented by Kay Evanovich, Certified Arborist, TRAQ, WRRQ, GASWCC Level II


Understanding Tree Regulations and Building Plans  

  • Review of municipal ordinances and tree preservation laws 
  • Integrating trees into site plans—what engineers and architects need to know 
  • Case studies of successful projects balancing development and trees 

Tree Identification 

  • Identification by leaves: recognizing common species in the Southeast 
  • Winter identification: using twigs, bud arrangement, and bark characteristics 

Urban Tree Risk Assessment 

  • Identifying signs of stress, damage, and environmental challenges 

 

Webinar Instructions 
 
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.

GoToWebinar App requirements:  
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS

Web Browser: 
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions) 
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)

Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better

Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

Credits

Engineers
2.0 PDHs

Architects
2.0 HSW CE Hours

AIA - American Institute of Architects
2.0 LU|HSW

Landscape Architects
2.0 HSW CE Hours

LACES - Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System
2.0 HSW PDHs

Arborists
2.0 CEUs

ISA - International Society of Arboriculture
2.0 CEUs

APA/AICP - American Planning Association/American Institute of Certified Planners
2 | CM

 

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 2.0 PDHs for professional engineers, 2.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects, and 2.0 HSW continuing education hours for landscape architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.

HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers, architects and landscape architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) and the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA/CES). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses. 

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 2.0 LU|HSW (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES. 

The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System has approved this course for 2.0 HSW PDHs. Only full participation is reportable to the LA CES.

This webinar has been approved by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) for the following CEUs: 2.0 Certified Arborist, Urban Forester and 1.0 Climber Specialist, Utility Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, BCMA Management, BCMA Practice.

HalfMoon Education is an approved CM Provider with the American Planning Association. This course is registered for CM | 2 for Certified Planners. 

While this course is designed to qualify for credit in most states, licensing boards have final authority with respect to acceptance of credits. We recommend reviewing the rules of your licensing board(s) before undertaking any continuing education activities.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

 

On-Demand Credits

The credits listed above apply only to the live webinar. This course in an on-demand format may not qualify for the same credit in some states. Please refer to specific board rules to determine if an asynchronous, on-demand course is appropriate. The following credits will be included in the on-demand format:

  • 2.0 LU|HSW (AIA)
  • 2.0 HSW PDHs (LACES)

Speakers

Kay Evanovich, Certified Arborist, TRAQ, WRRQ, GASWCC Level II

Arborist for the City of Decatur, Georgia

Kay Evanovich is one of the City of Decatur, Georgia, arborists and has held an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification since 2002. Mrs. Evanovich also holds a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification and a Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualification, and she is a Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Level 1 Trainer and Level II Reviewer. Her courses of study in environmental issues and tree and forest health were completed through the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education and the Warnell School of Forestry between 1999 and 2025, and she received her Landscape Design Certificate from Emory University in 2020. As a municipal and consulting arborist, Mrs. Evanovich has been performing tree health assessments and tree valuations and reviewing plans and permits for the public since 2005. She serves on the Executive Board of Directors of the Georgia Arborist Association (GAA) and teaches the Certified Arborist training course for the GAA. Mrs. Evanovich received the Community Impact Award in 2020 and the Arborist of the Year Award for 2023. She is an avid soccer fan and enjoys watching games with family and friends.

LinkedIn

AIA Info

AIA Provider Statement: 

HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3). 

This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. 

AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request. 

Course Title: Tree Smarts: From Regulations to Risk

Delivery Method: Live Online 

Course Description: This two-hour course examines the regulatory, ecological, and practical aspects of trees in urban and development contexts. The program reviews municipal ordinances and tree preservation laws, with guidance on integrating trees into building and site plans. Instruction also covers tree identification techniques for common Southeastern species and concludes with methods for assessing urban tree health, risk factors, and signs of stress or damage.

Learning Objectives: 

Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to interpret municipal ordinances and tree preservation laws and apply them to site and building plans.

Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to identify common tree species in the Southeast using leaf, bark, twig, and bud characteristics.

Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to analyze case studies that demonstrate successful integration of tree preservation into development projects.

Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to perform basic urban tree risk assessments by recognizing signs of stress, damage, and environmental challenges.

LUs: 2.0

LU Type: LU|HSW

Prerequisites: None

Advance Preparation: None 

Program Level: Intermediate 

Course Expiration Date:  09/08/2029

Complaint Resolution Policy: 

Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.