The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
The WAA/DNR Conference provides opportunities to network with other tree care professionals.
Photo by Jeff Treu
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January 10, 2007
This issue's contents:
In the News
- More Trees = Reduced ADHD Symptoms (Alliance for Community Trees)
- 2007 Predicted to be World's Warmest Year (Reuters)
Specifically Wisconsin
Emerald Ash Borer
- One-third of Portage's Trees in Jeopardy (Portage Daily Register)
- 2,900 Trees Coming Down In Illinois Due To Ash Borer (CBS 2 Chicago)
- Cary, IL Bans Planting New Ash Trees (Northwest Herald)
Tools For Your Job
- Handheld Computer Technology Webcast
- General Mills Healthy Kids Grants- Deadline: Feb. 1 (Alliance for Community Trees)
Conferences & Seminars
- LEAF Workshop Rescheduled at Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee
- Introduction to Urban Watersheds
- More Information on Conference and Seminars
More Trees = Reduced ADHD Symptoms (Alliance for Community Trees)
Two surveys of parents of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have shown that performing activities in green settings can reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Adding trees and greenery near homes and schools and encouraging kids with ADHD to go outside may help supplement established treatments to improve functioning.
2007 Predicted to be World's Warmest Year (Reuters)
This year is set to be the hottest on record worldwide due to global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon, Britain's Meteorological Office said on Thursday. The Met Office said the combination of factors would likely push average temperatures this year above the record set in 1998. 2006 is set to be the sixth warmest on record globally. "This new information represents another warning that climate change is happening around the world," said Met Office scientist Katie Hopkins.
2007 World's Warmest Year (Exit DNR)
Wisconsin Urban Forestry Conference
The Wisconsin Arborist Association Annual Conference and Trade Show & Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Annual Urban Forestry Conference will be held in Green Bay, February 4-6, 2007. Speakers from Wisconsin and throughout the U.S. will provide cutting edge information on emerald ash borer, IPM, safety, inventories, customer relations and sales, planting depth research, wood utilization, felling techniques, champion trees and much, much more. The program brochure is now available. You can register for the conference using a secure on-line registration form.
WAA/DNR Annual Conference (Exit DNR)
Wisconsin Green Industry Day on the Hill - February 14, 2007
In 2005, the first Wisconsin Green Industry Day on the Hill event was held at the State Capitol in Madison. Over 200 green industry professionals attended and visited their lawmakers in the Capitol. Everyone in attendance vowed to repeat this event every two years. That time is here. This year's event will be held on Wednesday February 14, beginning at the Monona Terrace Convention Center for a legislative luncheon and guest speakers followed by a short walk over to the Capitol for scheduled visits with your elected Representatives and Senators. Wednesdays are also the best day of the week to meet with legislators in their offices in Madison.
Attached is a Wisconsin Green Industry Day on the Hill Registration form. There is no cost to register and attend. As in 2005, the Wisconsin Green Industry Federation is seeking sponsors and as many GI affiliated associations to participate. In 2005 17 state associations participated. For registration information:
Wisconsin Green Industry Day on the Hill (Exit DNR)
One-third of Portage's Trees in Jeopardy (Portage Daily Register)
One-third of Portage's trees are likely to be gone in the next five to ten years, according to City Forester Tim Raimer. All of the city's ash trees are expected to fall victim to the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle native to Asia, which has been responsible for the loss of an estimated 25 million ash trees in the United States, and could eventually wipe out every ash on the continent. "People need to start planning ahead for this because it will come," Raimer said of the beetle, which has devastated tree populations in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. "It's going to be a nasty one."
2,900 Trees Coming Down In Illinois Due To Ash Borer (CBS 2 Chicago)
Thousands of trees will be destroyed in Wilmette, IL a northern suburb of Chicago to fight the emerald ash borer beetle. Foresters are scraping ash trees, seeking confirmation of larvae of the emerald ash borer. The larvae is actually more destructive than the beetle itself. "They tunnel beneath the bark and cut off the tree's circulation system, so there's no water and nutrients moving in the trees," said Village Forester Kevin Sorby. Wilmette believes it has no choice but to chop down all its ash trees. Forty-four have been cut down so far, with a lot more to go. In total 2,900 will be removed over the next five years, including some healthy ones. Ash trees account for 15 percent of all the trees in this North Shore community.
2,900 Trees to be Removed in Illinois (Exit DNR)
Cary, IL Bans Planting New Ash Trees (Northwest Herald)
Cary, Illinois Village Board members voted to make it illegal to plant new or replacement ash trees on public land in a preemptive measure to control an invasive insect. Trustees unanimously approved a change to village code Tuesday preventing new ash trees from being planted in public spaces. The trees, which are characterized by multiple leaves on a single stem and a tight, diamond-shaped pattern to its bark, are foodstuffs to the destructive emerald ash borer.
Cary Bans Planting Ash (Exit DNR)
Handheld Computer Technology Webcast
Please plan to join us for the January edition of the Urban Natural Resources Institute (UNRI) Informational Webcast, which aims to bring to you up to date on the work of Forest Service scientists, and our cooperators, who are working on urban natural resource research and development projects.
The upcoming webcast, "Handheld Computer Technology: Solutions for Urban Natural Resources Management" will feature Robert A. Sacks, Principal, Bluejay Software Associates,and David V. Bloniarz, Ph.D., USDA Forest Service, Amherst, MA. The webcast session is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17th at 11:00 AM (Eastern).
This informational webcast will provide a useful overview and introduction to utilizing handheld Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in Urban and Community Natural Resource Stewardship efforts, as well as demonstrate several software resources that utilize PDAs. This webcast is a good opportunity to learn more about the hardware and software tools that are available to urban foresters, including researchers, managers and community coordinators.
From the convenience of your own office or home computer, you can simply log in to the webcast Internet site to see the presentation, and dial-in via your telephone to hear the corresponding audio. Please plan to participate in this Informational Webcast, which will last approximately 60 minutes.
For more information and Log-In details, please visit:
Handheld Computer Technology Webcast (Exit DNR)
General Mills Healthy Kids Grants- Deadline: Feb. 1 (Alliance for Community Trees)
The goal of the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids initiative, a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Challenge, is to encourage communities in the United States to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people. For information on grants visit:
Healthy Kids Grants (Exit DNR)
LEAF Workshop Rescheduled at Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee
The Learning, Experiences, & Activities in Forestry (LEAF) program has scheduled a workshop for educators at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee on March 9 &10. Visit the following link for more information on LEAF and their forestry education programs. For information on workshop dates scroll to the bottom of the page.
Introduction to Urban Watersheds
For the first time, the Center for Watershed Protection is bringing its instruction right to your computer through the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) online education program. Online education makes it possible for you to attend class at any time of day in any place you choose!
Introduction to Urban Watersheds (Environmental Management 360) is a 15-week, 3-credit undergraduate university course conducted entirely online! The course introduces you to the basics of watersheds and why their management is important. It will emphasize human impacts and effects on watersheds. Class begins January 24th. For additional information:
Introduction to Urban Watersheds (Exit DNR)
More Information on Conference and Seminars
For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forestry Web site.
More Conferences and Seminars (scroll down to 'Coming Events')
About the Insider
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider is intended as a quick networking tool for all people actively working in the area of urban and community forestry, especially in the state of Wisconsin.
Items that cannot wait for our quarterly print newsletter, Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests, will appear here.
The Insider is produced biweekly by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. Past issues will be archived on the UF pages on the WDNR web site.
We are happy to accept your suggestions and contributions. Send them to the editor, at Laura.Wyatt@Wisconsin.gov. Or call her: 608/267-0568.
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