The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Comment on Federal Budget for Urban & Community Forests Needed
As many of you already know, the US House of Representatives markup penciled $31.1 million for the Urban and Community Forestry Program for FY 2008. That is a $1 million budget increase over last year's enacted level. It is $13 million more than the President proposed in the Forest Service budget for FY 08. In a tight budget environment, this is a strong success.
The next step in the budget process is the Senate. The mark-up in the US Senate for this appropriation is June 19th (early next week). Your comment continues to be critical. Let your Senators know the impact of urban forests to the health and well being of your community and highlight the role of the federal U&CF program at work in the state. Faxes, phone calls and e-mails are appropriate for this window. Comment to Senator Herb Kohl is especially important since he is a member of the subcommittee on Interior, Environment & Related Agencies.
For additional information visit: Urban & Community Forests
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June 14, 2007
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Home Depot Announces $100 Million Commitment
- Trees = Less Stress and Faster Surgery Recovery
- National Register of Big Trees
Specifically Wisconsin
Emerald Ash Borer
- USDA Seeks Comment
- Spanish Language Website for EAB
- Editorial Tough on Control Efforts - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- New Hope in Ash Tree Borer Battle - The Detroit News
- Hand-to-Hand Combat with the Emerald Ash Borer - Detroit Free Press
- Wisconsin Communities Prepare for Emerald Ash Borer
Tools For Your Job
- South Central and Southeast Region Forest Health Update - Vol.4 No.3
- Captain Planet Youth-Oriented Projects- Grant Deadline: June 30
Conferences & Seminars
- International Tree Failure Database
- Developing and Managing an Urban Forestry Program for Public Works
- More Conferences and Seminars
Home Depot Announces $100 Million Commitment
The Home Depot Foundation announced a 10-year, $100 million commitment to support efforts to make communities healthier and more stable. The funds will be invested to address two areas of vital concern: access to affordable, healthy homes for working families, and planting and preserving community trees in urban areas. In total, the pledge will support the development of 100,000 affordable, healthy homes, and the planting and preservation of more than 3 million community trees over the next decade.
Trees = Less Stress and Faster Surgery Recovery
In 1984, Roger Ulrich completed the best-known and most thorough study linking views of nature to hospital recovery. Records on recovery after cholecystectomy of patients in a suburban Pennsylvania hospital between 1972 and 1981 were examined to determine whether assignment to a room with a window view of a natural setting might have restorative influences.
Clinical Benefits of Trees [exit DNR]
National Register of Big Trees
The deadline is almost here. American Forests will cease taking nominations August 1 for the 2008 National Register of Big Trees, which features the largest known of 826 tree species from across the nation. No one knows yet who the winners will be; check out the Spring 2008 issue of American Forests magazine to see which champions were toppled and which kept their titles. After all, you never know what size tree will be discovered. Who knows, that somebody could be you!
Learn how to submit your "big" tree to the Wisconsin Champion Tree Program at: Wisconsin's Champion Trees
Assistance with Gypsy Moth Management
June to early July can bring numerous calls related to gypsy moth caterpillars being a nuisance and eating leaves off trees. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers assistance with gypsy moth problems and suggestions regarding how to combat the problem in the future.
Gypsy Moth Management [PDF, 33KB]
USDA Seeks Comment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is announcing that an environmental assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of three insect parasitoid species for the biological control of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).
The environmental assessment documents the review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with the release of these biological control agents. This environmental assessment is available to the public for review and comment.
The USDA will consider all comments received on or before June 22, 2007.
To receive the document, please contact Deborah McPartlan, Staff Officer, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4700 River Road, Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, telephone (301) 734-5356, or an electronic copy is available at:
Release of Biological Agents [exit DNR]
Once at the site:
- Step 1-select Documents Accepting Comment
- Step 2-select Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
- Step 3-select All Documents Types
- Step 4-select Document ID and enter keyword APHIS-2007-0060
- Submit
Spanish Language Website for EAB
Purdue University has introduced a Spanish language website for EAB. Everything from life cycles to pesticide recommendations are now in Spanish. It is available through Purdue's EAB website which is accessible from www.emeraldashborer.info home page. Once on Purdue's website look for a button on the lower right of our screen that says "Disponible en Espanol". The direct link, has a button on the lower right "Available in English" to get you back to the original English version.
Direct link to Spanish EAB website [exit DNR]
A special section for the green industry that should be useful for Spanish speaking workers is available at: Green Industry [exit DNR]
Editorial Tough on Control Efforts - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
One year ago, we said state officials were doing "pretty much everything they can" to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer into Wisconsin. But as recent articles by Journal Sentinel reporter Dan Egan have shown, those efforts probably won't do much to stop the beetle, which poses a deadly threat to ash trees.
New Hope in Ash Tree Borer Battle - The Detroit News
For many of the Metro Detroit communities where the emerald ash borer has reared its tiny metallic-green head, Grosse Pointe Farms is an example of what might have been. Five years after many other cities cut down their ash trees to deal with the invasion of the beetles, the Farms can still boast a thriving ash population.
Hand-to-Hand Combat with the Emerald Ash Borer - Detroit Free Press
Harsens Island, Michigan rebel among those finding treatment can save the trees.
Wisconsin Communities Prepare for Emerald Ash Borer
Wisconsin communities have a new resource to assist in their preparation for the possible arrival of the invasive forest pest, the emerald ash borer. The Emerald Ash Borer Toolkit for Wisconsin Communities is designed for municipal tree managers and urban forestry consultants and contains more than 100 documents covering pre-planning, public awareness, first response, control measures, long-term management and much more. The toolkit is designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate the needs of various users.
South Central and Southeast Region Forest Health Update - Vol.4 No.3
Topics in this update:
Eastern tent caterpillars started to pupate
European pine sawfly
Tatters on oak and hackberry
Wool sower galls on white oak
Hickory pouch gall
Gypsy moth updates
- Gypsy moth calls are coming in! What do I do!
- DNR gypsy moth suppression update
- DATCP STS treatment update
17-year Periodical Cicadas are out in Wisconsin
EAB Purple traps will be up this summer
Receiving a call or e-mail about possible Emerald Ash Borer find? What should you do?
New staff member to Forest Health Protection Unit
SCR-SER Forest Health Update [PDF, 154KB]
Captain Planet Youth-Oriented Projects- Grant Deadline: June 30
The Captain Planet Foundation is accepting applications for its second round of 2007 funding. The Foundation is interested in funding innovative programs that empower children and youth around the world to work to solve environmental problems in their communities. Grants ranging from $250 and $2,500 are provided to eligible nonprofit organizations to support projects that promote understanding of environmental issues through hands-on involvement of children and young adults ages 6-18.
The remaining 2007 deadlines are September 30 and December 31.
Captain Planet Funding [exit DNR]
International Tree Failure Database
The June edition of the U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station's Urban Natural Resources Institute (UNRI) Informational Webcast is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20th at 10:00 AM (central) and will feature the International Tree Failure Database (ITFDB), with Dr. Brian Kane, University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
The ITFD application has an internet based form for collecting important information about trees that have failed structurally. Over time this data will reveal the characteristics of trees that fail and improve our ability to predict future failures. Dr. Kane will outline this important resource and provide information on how you might become part of the ITFD reporting network. Please note that (1.0) ISA CEU Credit is available for participation in the informational webcast.
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 [exit DNR]
Developing and Managing an Urban Forestry Program for Public Works
On August 9, 2007 10:00 A.M. (central) the American Public Works Association is hosting a Click, Listen & Learn program featuring the best management practices for issues including hiring and recruitment of staff, budgeting/funding, policies, procedures, ordinances and regulations, and tree inventory systems. The program is being developed through a partnership with APWA, the US Forest Service, the Society of Municipal Arborists and Davey Resource Group. The results will be a series of reports on best management practices for municipal urban forestry management. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn about creating a successful, sustainable urban forestry programs for your public works department. The first 100 sites registered are FREE! Online registration only.
Urban Forestry Public Works [exit DNR]
More Conferences and Seminars
For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forest Website.
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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