** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN TREE MANAGEMENT. LABOR SHORTAGES IN THE ARBORICULTURE SECTOR ARE BEING EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUTTHENATION.INPUERTORICO,TRAINEDTREEPROFESSIONALSARENEEDEDSINCEAGROFORESTRYSYSTEMS (AFS) ARE INCREASING IN THE ISLAND, AND TREE MANAGEMENT IN AFS IS CRITICAL FOR CROP AND FORAGE PRODUCTIVITY, AND HURRICANE AND EARTHQUAKE FARM PREPAREDNESS. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE CURRICULAR SEQUENCE IN ARBORICULTURE OF UPR-UTUADO ANDATREEMANAGEMENTCERTIFICATETHATWILLAIDINTHETRAININGOFTHENEXTGENERATIONOFTREEWORKERSIN OUR REGION.THEPROGRAMSWILLBEOPENTOPUERTO RICORESIDENTSANDTHOSEWILLINGTORELOCATETOTHEISLAND.ALTHOUGHTHEPROGRAMSWILLHAVEONLINE COMPONENTS, TREE MANAGEMENT TRAINING REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE IMMERSIVE INSTRUCTION. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS TRAINED IN TREE MANAGEMENT.